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CARBY ROSE BASINA, GMA Integrated News
Published February 19, 2025 8:00pm
Masungi Georeserve is the 2024 national winner of the Energy Globe Award in the Philippines!
On Wednesday, the conservation area located in Baras, Rizal was bestowed the award in a ceremony graced by Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Johann Brieger.
“It’s really special for me to be here personally today to share this moment with you. It’s a very important moment as environment protection is important today,” he said.
“Forestry is very important. It’s not only providing—of course, it’s an important habitat for many species—it’s crucial to combating climate change.”
Masungi Georeserve was recognized for its geopark project, a reforestation effort that was launched in 2017.
Over 2,000 hectares out of its 3,000-hectare conservation area have already been restored with 68,000 native trees planted, and 100 rangers and 200 partners engaged.
Masungi Georeserve co-founder Ann Dumaliang said that it’s always heartwarming and inspiring for them to receive recognition for their work.
“Sometimes, we get so preoccupied with the daily things that we need to run… These are awards that force us to remember how far we’ve got and force us to celebrate despite everything because it has moved forward and it has accomplished so much, so it’s nice to be reminded of that,” she said.
Ann added that the Energy Globe Award is an affirmation of how important the work is.
“Nakakatuwa na merong gano’ng support. And I guess this also highlights that it’s really multi-sectoral. It’s not just environmental organizations that are at work here. We work with the youth and we also work with governments, with embassies, with progressive groups from all parts of society and industries to put it together.”
The Energy Globe Award is assisted by an international jury consisting of about 30 energy and environmental experts who evaluate projects based on different criteria.
The national winners from over 180 participating countries are then nominated for the Energy Globe World Award. It is presented in five different categories: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Youth.
In 2023, the Energy Globe World Award overall winner was Next Generation Oil from Malaysia for its Algae Modular Automated Plantation project.
— CDC, GMA Integrated News
