The Win-Win Solution

PNOC, being an energy company, had been stereotyped as a development aggressor more than as a corporate environmentalist and philanthropist. Hence, there were some initial opposition and disbelief that PNOC-EDC could nurture a healthy habitat within a geothermal environment. However, as it became recognized as a serious green advocate, it gained more respect even from those who were initially not supportive of geothermal projects.

The other and more difficult problem was arresting the fast denudation of 266,326 hectares of watershed for which PNOC-EDC and the local communities serve as guardians, while at the same time providing new and environment friendly livelihood to these upland farmers.

The search for a win-win solution to these twin problems became the focus of PNOC-EDC’s efforts. After all, geothermal development is intrinsically interlaced with watershed management since geothermal fluid is meteoric in origin. Further, an honest-to-goodness watershed management program requires the active and sustained participation of the upland communities. This can only be attained if the concerns, needs and aspirations of the communities are taken into consideration.

The range and magnitude of the communities’ concerns and needs pointed to the fact that the solution to the problem was not merely a matter of technology transfer or sufficient funding. With the ultimate goal of fostering self-reliant communities, the approach deviated from the traditional concept of corporate altruism. Instead, it was directed towards forging a strong bond with the communities, making them realize that through their willingness to organize and empower themselves, they could achieve a better quality of life. Organizing efforts were deeply rooted, premised on facilitating change in value systems, accelerating adjustments to new farming methods and technologies, and instilling the right work attitude that would contribute to their economic and social upliftment.

A book that chronicles the development of the NZ-PNOC Social Forestry Project will be soon released so that many others would practice the concept and gain success from it.

Two of the most successful organizations working with PNOC in this Social Forestry Project are also featured to show how these approaches transformed the lives of two very distinct sectors in their communities. These are the (1) Tongonan Farmers Association in Tongonan, Leyte; and, (2) Tulungan Farmers Association in Barangay Rizal, Sorsogon, Sorsogon.

basic info  |  initiative  |  strategy  |  critical factors  |  other links  |  home