Integrating Environmental Considerations into the Economic Decision-Making Process
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Volume IEast and Southeast AsiaPhilippines Index
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III. MEASURES AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS USED FOR INTEGRATION

[ III | III-A | III-B | III-C ]

C. Other measures

[ C-1 | C-2 | C-3 | C-4 | C-5]

4. Information and education campaign measures

In addition to the above-mentioned measures for integrating environmental considerations into economic decision-making, information and education campaign measures are being implemented. That is important, as effective integration means reorientation in the working methods of policy makers, policy analysts, and those who implement policies and programmes. The measures are also essential in allowing the entire population to understand and appreciate the shift towards an environmentally-friendly development path. A well-informed and properly motivated population will provide the necessary grass-roots base for the continued protection of the environment.

The government has identified a clear plan for information dissemination and education in the Philippine Agenda 21. The overall goal of the plan is to promote the concept of living in harmony with nature. That can be further explained as:

  • The recognition and adoption of sustainable development as the new development paradigm which recognizes the synergy and reconciliation of environmental management and economic development;
  • The broadening and mobilization of an active sustainable development constituency from various sectors and all levels of society;
  • The institutionalization of environmental management and sustainable development concerns in development structures, policies and programmes in all sectors, including national and local government agencies and bodies, business and industry, civil society and media organizations.
The following communication strategies have been identified:
  • Social mobilization, which involves the participation of all sectors of society in the process of attaining sustainable development. It includes the following approaches: interpersonal communication; use of influential or opinion leaders in the community; assembly meetings; formal and non-formal classes; traditional and folk media; and innovative and indigenous channels;
  • Advocacy, which creates an enabling environment through policy studies, policy forums, lobbying, ecological labelling and exchange visits-cum-seminars;
  • Social marketing, which provides a support strategy for social mobilization by using traditional modes of communication involving the mass media;
  • Networking, which involves utilizing information technology to effectively reach the intended audience/sectors through institutional linkages and electronic means;
  • Visioning, to inculcate shared values, beliefs and practices on sustainable development through role modelling, values clarification and environmental scanning.

At present, the government is conducting several information and awareness campaigns through paid advertisements in radio and television. Most of the campaigns are co-financed by the private business sector. As environmental awareness among the private business sector grows, the sector is being tapped as sponsors and partners in promoting the protection and preservation of environmental quality. Likewise, training programmes and capability-building activities are being implemented by the government for staff of those government agencies with a strategic role in incorporating environmental considerations in economic decision-making (e.g., NEDA, the Department of Finance, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, and Congress). The programmes are aimed at increasing awareness and equipping the staff with the necessary tools, methodologies and analytical frameworks for them to incorporate environmental considerations into the policies formulated by their agencies.

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