ACTIVITY PROPOSAL

FOR : LOPE BAYUDAN SANTOS III

Secretary / Lead Convenor

THRU : FERDINAND B. HOMBREBUENO

Director III, PPS

SUBJECT : CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP ON THE RIGHTS OF NATURE AND

ITS IMPLICATION TO PUBLIC POLICIES

DATE : February 7, 2023

Title Safeguarding the Natural World: A Consultative Workshop on the

Rights of Nature

Proposed dates March 9, 2023

Venue Quezon City
Participants
Service/Office No. of participants
Academe: Head of Envi Research 10
Studies, Centers or Institutes
(Manila Observatory,
Environmental Science
Department of Marian, UP
Diliman, PUP, and UST)
Church: Head of Envi Program or 10
Ministry (Missionary Sisters of
Mary (MSM), Franciscans,
Jesuits [Ateneo], etc.)
NGO representatives with 10
climate-resilience advocacy
programs (ACCORD, Inc., Care
Philippines, Philippine Misereor
Partnership, Inc., DRRNet,
Greenpeace PH, Wetlands
International, Haribon
Foundation, etc.)
NGAs (Climate Change 5
Commission, OCD, NDRRMC,
and NCIP)
NAPC Basic Sectors (2 28
 representatives per sector)
Media 5
NAPC Secretariat 5
TOTAL 73

Rationale/Activity The “Rights of Nature” is a principle that values the inherent worth and
Description rights of natural systems and ecosystems, and asserts that they have the
right to exist, flourish, and evolve. This is a paradigm shift from human-
centered environmentalism to the prioritization of the health and well-
being of the planet and all its components, including non-human
components like natural processes and ecosystems. Proponents argue
that this approach and perspective can lead to a more sustainable
relationship between humans and the environment.

Based on this principle, the “Rights of Nature” as a legal framework

recognizes that ecosystems have the same rights and protection as people
and other legal persons. Recognizing nature as having equal rights grants
them legal protection against human-caused abuse that results to
degradation. It stands that the ecosystems have an intrinsic right to exist,
grow, and regenerate their natural cycles without hindrance from
humans. Ergo, the Rights of Nature doctrine would grant personhood
status to the environment and ecosystems.

The environment and ecosystems as having personhood status under this

doctrine is also entitled to have a legal representation in court through
the appointment of a guardian who will act on behalf of their best
interests. The guardian could be a group with in-depth knowledge and
experience in managing and caring for a specific ecosystem. They can
also pursue legal action against harm caused by human actions.

Meanwhile, the NAPC Non-Government Organizations Sectoral Council

(NGOSC) also recognizes the urgency of institutionalizing reforms and
timely paradigm shift towards a sustainable, collective, and integrated
solutions to environmental ills that have an impact on agriculture vis-à-
vis our food security.

In Resolution No. 3, series of 2021 titled “Resolution Expressing Strong

Support for the Intensification of the Campaign on the Rights of Nature
and Expressing Support for the Passage of the Rights of Nature Bill of
the 18th Congress (HB 5603, HB 5216, SB 1097)”, the NGOSC stated
that there is a need for an enhanced ecosystem services as the
marginalized sectors are dependent on its provisions. The NGOSC also
expressed concerns over the sustainability of natural resources, the
agricultural resources in particular, as they have observed the unabated
use of natural resources by corporations operating in extractive sectors
that worsen the poverty-environment linkage.

According to the said resolution, “concerns regarding the link between

poverty reduction and natural resources sustainability are addressed in
 the Rights of Nature in the proposed legislation”.
The NGOSC in Resolution No.3, s. 2021 also seek the assistance of the
Policy and Planning Service of the NAPC for policy support and the
endorsement of the Sectoral Representative Council. It also calls on the
support of the NAPC to enable structures to support the intensification
of information and education campaign on the recognition of Nature’s
legal rights and the promotion of holistic and sustainable development
paradigm as one of the means to address deprivations and poverty.

To heed the call of the basic sectors, the PPS of the NAPC would like to
conduct a consultative workshop on the Rights of Nature to increase the
awareness of environmental defenders, climate advocates, academes,
lawmakers, service providers, among others. The workshop will also
discuss the implications of the Rights of Nature to our current programs
and legislation.
Objectives
1. Increase the awareness and understanding of CSO leaders,
academes, basic sectors, and NGAs on the Rights of Nature as a
legal framework.

2. Identify ways forward to supports the Rights of Nature bills and

policy recommendations for House Bill No. 5603 and Senate
Bill No. 1097.

Expected outputs
1. Attendance sheet and activity feedback and evaluation results.

2. List of ways forward and policy recommendations

SP No./PAP No. General Administrative and Support Services.

Detailed Budget See attached file for the detailed budget.

Source GAA Fund

Prepared by: Within the budget:

ANJO J. BACARISAS OSCAR M. INOCENTE, CPA

Senior Technical Officer III Budget Officer

Reviewed by: Approved by:

FERDINAND B. HOMBREBUENO
Director III, PPS LUPE BAYUDAN SANTOS
III
 Secretary/Lead Convenor

Detailed Budget

A. Food and venue

Particulars No. of No. of Cost per pax/ day Total

Persons Days

Food and venue of participants, 73 1 Php1,250 Php91,250

facilitator, and secretariat
Communications 1 1 Php300 Php300
Supplies and materials 68 1 Php160 Php10,880

B. Transportation
 Particulars No. of No. of Cost per pax/ day Total
Persons Days/trips

Transportation of NAPC Basic 28 2 Php1,000 Php56,000

Sectors and Secretariat

C. Professional fee of facilitators

No. of
Particulars Persons No. of Cost per Total
hours pax/day/hour

Professional fee for resource 1 8 Php2,200 Php17,600

speaker (Salient Provisions)
Professional fee for resource 1 8 Php2,200 Php17,600
speaker (History of RoN)
Professional fee for workshop 1 4 Php1,500 Php6,000
facilitator
Documenter 1 3 days Php3,000 Php9,000

Sub-total: Php208,630

Contingency funds: Php20,000

Overall total: Php228,630

PROPOSED PROGRAM

TIME ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE PERSON

9:00am Preliminaries:

a. National Anthem NAPC IP Basic Sector

b. Interfaith prayer
c. Welcome Remarks LUPE BAYUDAN SANTOS III
Lead Convenor, NAPC
9:30am Presentation:

a. The Rights of Nature Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc.

advocacy in the Philippines

10:30am Presentation:

a. The Necessity of Rights of ATTY. ANTONIO LA VINA, JSD

Nature and the salient Associate Director for climate policy
provisions of House Bill No. and international relations, Manila
 5603 and Senate Bill No. Observatory (MO)
1097.

12:00nn Lunchbreak
1:00pm
Continuation of presentation on HB
No. 5603 and SB No. 1097.

2:30pm Workshop:

a. Instructions re workshop
mechanics.
b. Identification of Workshop facilitator
recommendations for bills re
Rights of Nature.
c. Identification of ways forward
to support Rights of Nature
bills.

4:00pm Presentation of workshop outputs Facilitator

5:00pm Synthesis Policy and Planning Service

5:15pm Closing remarks PAUL PARAGUYA

Sectoral Representative, NGO Sector