KAPITAL invites former DENR Sec. Gina Lopez as keynote speaker for day 1
Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines Management Support Unit Team Leader Luisa Lim-Jolongbayan spoke at the College of Business Administration and Accountancy Student Council (CBAASC)-led event KAPITAL: Kultura at Adhikaing Pilipino bilang Tatak Lasalyano yesterday, April 16, at Ugnayang La Salle (ULS).
The first installment of the event attended by CBAA students and non-CBAA students tackled environmental sustainability and economic growth.
As the first keynote speaker, Lopez talked about the importance of love, passion for service, and connecting with people in economic growth and environmental sustainability.
“What if the foundation of economic growth is love?” Lopez added, “Love is not just an emotion, it’s a force, it’s a power, it gives clarity, it gives mission, it is the key to economic growth.”
Lopez also discussed how the development and investment of natural resources and local tourist spots such as the recently-closed Boracay will decrease the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who need to sacrifice spending months away from the country.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), cash remittances sent by OFWs grew at around $2.379 billion in January 2018, yet bad working environments and abuses against workers remain such that cases like the murder of Filipino domestic worker Joanna Dimafelis in Kuwait in February arise, which prompted the government to discontinue deployment in the said country.
Lopez added that areas such as Lola Sayong Eco Surf Camp, Buhatan River Eco Adventure in Sorsogon, Tagabinet, Palawan, and other tourist locations around the country will generate “millions of revenues” after their development.
Although certain sectors of the economy are growing, the marginalized sectors such as farmers, indigenous people, people living in the conflict areas, fishermen, and others remain left behind. Lopez’s advice for this is to invest in local enterprises to help generate income for the said workers.
On the other hand, UNDP representative Jolongbayan discussed UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of the younger generation’s involvement achieving these goals.
She also emphasized the importance of voicing out one’s opinion, creating spaces for engagement, and contributing to a greater social good.
“We want your voices to be heard, not just within your groups, not just within your circles, but hopefully your circles will connect with other circles as well and that creates a louder voice,” she said.
Jolongbayan also encouraged the school administration to conduct activities such as a school-based “no impact challenge” to lessen carbon footprints, ecological footprint, and waste production.
“Take the opportunity, take the challenge, own your right to be leaders of today and make sure that you get things rolling. There are a number of actions that have been done already, but there are still a number of actions that will need to continue,” Jolongbayan said.
KAPITAL will continue on its second installment on Friday, April 20, featuring keynote speaker Vice President Leni Robredo and Go Negosyo Founding Trustee Joey Concepcion.
