Odyssey promotes healthy environment
Odyssey Foundation Inc. (OFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of CDOFoodsphere Inc., has undertaken several projects under its “Gabay Kalikasan” advocacy to increase public awareness on environmental protection and preservation.
Gabay Edukasyon is one of the five pillars of OFI’s NEELS advocacy campaign which refers to nutrition, education, environment, livelihood and service to humanity.
NEELS represents the commitment of OFI to help uplift the lives of those who are in need.
“Environmental degradation is an undeniable and increasing urgent problem that affects many of society’s basic needs – from food, to air, to water. Even as corporate social responsibility among businesses continues to grow, there remains a stark need to cascade this awareness down to the grassroots. Our environment pillar focuses on enlightening and equipping targeted communities so that they can do their share in help- ing bring green back into their surroundings,” OFI president Jerome Ong said.
OFI initiated its first project for the environment in March 2014, in cooperation with the nutrition and agriculture office of Valenzuela City. It launched an urban gardening competition called “Gabay Luntian” in Barangays Maysan and Marulas with ten household participants.
Another batch was implemented in Malvar, Batangas with 15 household participants each, in five barangays. The owners of properly cultivated organic vegetable gardens who have shown their potential as provider of vegetables to their respective communities were awarded additional tools and materials to continue their farming activities.
Gabay Luntian was also implemented in schools and rehabilitation shelters in Valenzuela City. A total of 350 participants in seven batches have participated in the urban gardening project which aims to teach communities in managing an organic backyard garden in limited spaces, as urban lands are mostly allotted for commercial activities.
Gabay Kalikasan focuses on equipping targeted communities with organic backyard concepts so that they can do their share in helping bring green back into their surroundings. OFI believes in the importance of a clean and green environment to have a life that is healthy in every aspect.
“The purpose of this project is to teach each family the importance of vegetable consumption and maintaining a clean environment in achieving optimum health,” he said.
OFI, under its Gabay Kalikasan advocacy, also participated in the “Adopt-an-Estero Project” of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with city environment and natural resources office of Valenzuela.
The project aims to aesthetically improve the condition of Paso de Blas creek.
OFI has adopted the creek since May 19, 2015 and also participated in the simultaneous creek clean-ups. It initiated the creation of Bantay Creek volunteers composed of community volunteers.