Leonie Agri Corp. Opens Its Doors to the International Market

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LAC, the first and largest organic-certified farm and manufacturing plant in the Philippines¹ 

welcomes DENR international delegates 

 

Leonie Agri Corp. (LAC), a subsidiary of one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines PascualLab, takes a step into the international market via the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 2023 ASEAN Conference on Medicinal Forest Trees tour held last September 7, 2023.  

LAC welcomes the 2023 DENR Asean Conference onf Medicinal TreesMR

 

Opening the Doors to an International Market 

LAC, the first and largest organic-certified farm and plant in the Philippines,¹ recently welcomed 80 delegates of the ERDB from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, at its 42-hectare home in Nueva Ecija. As part of their three-day itinerary, the delegates from the business, academe, and public sector, were given the tour of the newly refurbished LAC. 

 

ERDB OIC Asst. Director (For) Conrado Marquez and LAC President and CEO Antonio Causing

According to ERDB OIC-Assistant Director Forester (For) Conrado B. Marquez: “We have carefully chosen LAC as the ideal location for the conference tour. LAC is a renowned agriceutical company and the tour provided invaluable insights to every individual regarding the importance and utilization of medicinal plants, as well as the various forest tree species. This immersive experience further enhanced the understanding and appreciation of the potential benefits that these natural resources hold for society." 

 

Leonie Agri Corp. 

LAC recently renovated its farm and manufacturing plant, to further its parent company’s mission of providing quality health and wellness products and services, with highlight on its combination of organic-based farming methods and produce as well as its pharmaceutical-grade processes and products. Along with its farm and plant improvements comes the widening of its product and service portfolio. 

 

Home of Ascof Lagundi and WellGreens plus C-Lium Fibre  

LAC natural products on display at the DENR delegates' tour of the agrieceutical company

Home of the first Lagundi cough relief in the market, Ascof Lagundi² and the first commercially available Sinta food supplements, WellGreens Sinta, LAC is also home to premium and   organic-certified raw materials including Sambong (Blumea Camphor) and Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa). It also mostly manufactures C-Lium Fibre³, the leading psyllium fiber brand in the Philippines while another food supplement, PureGreens Malunggay is in the pipeline.  

 

Government-recognized  

LAC, certified by the Department of Agriculture for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and by the Islamic Da’Wah Council of the Philippines for Halal, produces premium organic raw materials to meet the various toll needs of clients.  

 

Industry-compliant  

Also certified by Department of Health’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), LAC offers reliable toll manufacturing services such as:   Sachet filling, Blistering, Dehydration, Milling, Encapsulation, Packaging, Spray drying, Extraction, Essential oil extraction, and Sterilization. 

LAC President and CEO Antonio Causing with some of the Asean delegates

Antonio C. Causing, LAC President and CEO affirms: “We share with DENR, the same passion for sustainability, and their vision of a nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources and a clean and healthy environment. LAC for one, adheres to these sustainable practices and quality standards.” 

 

Originally servicing clients in Southeast Asia, LAC is gearing up to explore more markets in Asia and the rest of the world in the coming years. 

 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

While LAC’s vision remains aligned with its parent company PascualLab’s vision for Strong, Healthy Families and its focus on market expansion, the Filipino-owned agriceutical firm continues to draw from its core – a passion for CSR. LAC is a socially responsible organization that employs sustainable methods. It also supports community development and the livelihood of local farmers. It partners with the local communities not only of Nueva Ecija, but also of Aurora and Bulacan in Luzon, Philippines to train farmers with the processes and standards of organic farming, providing them opportunities to improve the quality and increase the quantities of their crops, through earth-friendly methods, while earning a sustainable living as agripreneurs. 

 

Beyond this, LAC reaches out to sectors in need and survivors of natural calamities. 

 

Leonie Agri Corporation – continuously evolving to provide purposeful health solutions to its current and emerging markets. 

 

For more information, visit http://www.leonieagricorp.com/ 

Waste to Energy Summit 2019 : IGT and MPL to provide state of the art waste management to LGUs

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Integrated Green Technology (IGT) thru their founder and co-founder Mr. Michael Coronel-Jimenez and Ms. A. Leilani T. Cruz and CMPL (CNIM Martin Private Limited) based in Chennai India represented by Mr. Denis Bauer, CEO hosted their first “Waste to Energy Summit 2019” on Nov. 15, 2015 at the Grand Ballroom of Seda Hotel Vertis North Quezon City. 

This is to showcase their expertise in Renewable Energy and explain their patented European technology which is manufactured in India to cater the Asian market such as the Philippines. 

The Foreign technology CNIM are based in Paris France using a German Technology (Martin Gmbh) and has a combined 50 years experience in Waste to Energy EPC and FGT (Flue Gas Treatment) who has the highest emission standard that is compliance to our RA 8749 (Clean Air Act) of the Philippines.

(Left to Right) Architect Jesus Aguas, Mr. Michael Gimenez (CEO/President), Ms. A. Leilani Cruz (COO/Executive Vice President), Mr. Denis Bauer (CEO- CNIM Martin Private Limited), Ms. Pam Decal (Interim - Corporate Secretary), Mr. Joel Decal (VP-Business Affairs & Director)

The technology provider have built more than 170 WTE plants in 23 countries and soon 24th country will be in the Philippines. With a combined cooperation of the LGU (Local Government Units), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and DOE (Department of Energy) IGT and CMPL believes this project investments of all stakeholders will come to reality.

It is fully supported by all European funders and back up with debt insurance and bank guarantees which are all in place for the financial support for the first three (3) projects ( 2 Provinces of Cebu and Province of Pangasinan) that has a total investment of $230M USD for the Philippines thru Allied Project Services Limited of London.

IGT and CMPL goal is to provide state of the art waste management, energy sustainability and environment protection per LGU’s. Not to mentioned this will also reduce the rate of electricity to the host Cities and Municipalities and generate employment to the community. “A Clean and Green Country-Philippines”.

Act now, act fast: WWF PH, GCash call for participation of Filipinos in fight for PH forests

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Over the last couple of years, the Philippines has been experiencing an alarming decrease in forest area. Due to rampant illegal logging and the lack of funds to better secure protected areas, the countries forests are going nude. 

Each year, based on data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), around 47,000 hectares of forest cover is lost, which is equivalent to approximately 1.2 million hectares of deforested land in a hundred years. This translates to about 24 percent in deforestation rate, one of the fastest in the world. 

These figures may sound too statistical, but they are a constant and stark reminder for Filipinos of the state of Philippine forests. This is also a wakeup call for everyone that while the government pursues efforts to create a greener country, a great amount of work is still up ahead, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

“Without strategic measures to combat this, Philippine forests will cease to exist in the next two decades -- leaving the next generation without clean air to breath, fresh and lush sceneries to enjoy, and endemic flora and fauna will only exist in picture books,” WWF Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma said. 

The severity of the situation calls for a pursuit of collaboration among all stakeholders -- the state, organizations, companies, and even the common Filipino. For many, participating in drives for the environment may seem to measly an idea due to the gravity of work to be done, but even the slightest act can create a chain of events that could help the country bring its forests back to full life. 

“We need to act now, and we need to act fast. We are at a critical time that loudly calls for action and the participation of everyone. Our fight for a greener Philippines is not won by one group alone. It needs to be a collaborative effort,” Palma added. 

GCash, operated by Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), recognizes the power of its platform to create a huge impact for the environment. Placing itself at the forefront of developing financial sustainability mechanisms that aim to strengthen forest conservation efforts within its growing user base of 20 million, GCash recently introduced GCash for Good. 

Acting as its corporate social responsibility arm, GCash for Good has collaborated with World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Forest Foundation Philippines, Bantay Kalikasan, as well as Haribon Foundation to pursue their shared vision of establishing a greener Philippines.

“Through these collaborations with non-government organizations, international organizations, and various merchants, we look forward to fulfilling our vision of greening the Philippines through our platform, as this initiative shall create a significant impact not only to the environment but also in the daily lives of each Filipino,” Mynt President Anthony Thomas said.

With GCash for Good, Filipinos from all walks of life, especially the youth sector, now have the power to create a positive change for the environment and stay socially relevant. Through GCash for Good, GCash has made it possible for registered GCash users to conveniently send donations to their chosen organization. 

The platform enables Filipinos to reach out further while also creating better opportunities for the society, as it eliminates the hassle of having to endure long processes of donating through banks and institutions and allows people to focus more on what truly matters to them.

Various research has shown that there is a growing trend in crowdfunding as well as micro-donations. Such kind of initiative, while it may generate a minimal amount at a given period, would still go a long way and make a significant impact once it gets added up.

“For every person who would like to make a difference, it’s also important to recognize that working together, aiming for the common goal hand-in-hand, can result in an even greater impact. With GCash for Good, doing something for a cause becomes accessible and easier for all Filipinos,” Thomas said.

Boracay Water ready to accept and treat sewer connections per latest DENR MO

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Boracay Island Water Company (Boracay Water) announced its readiness to accept sewer connections, following the latest Memorandum Order released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which directed hotels, resort, and similar establishments to connect to island’s concessionaires, in preparation for the Island’s scheduled re-opening in October.

Dated September 18 and signed by Secretary Roy Cimatu, the Memorandum Order provided the guidelines on the installation or construction of individual Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) per establishment in Boracay and at the same time ordered the concessionaires to collect and treat the wastewater of their own respective clients.

It also ordered Concessionaires to issue certifications that their respective customers are either connected to the sewer line or have their own compliant individuals STPs. The said certification will serve as a requirement for the hotel or establishment to operate come opening date on the 26th of October 2018.

As part of this directive, the Concessionaires are asked to provide DENR with data on water billed volume and volume of wastewater received for treatment for monitoring and planning purposes.

The Memorandum also requested all hotels having their own individuals STPs to discharge their treated effluents through the sewer lines and treated water lines of their water providers for eventual proper disposal. In relation to this, Boracay Water has a total 21 kilometers of sewer network available on the island, and have two sewage treatment facilities that can treat up to 11.5 million liters of wastewater or used water from establishments prior to disposal.

The latest DENR Order strictly stated that hotels that are unable to comply will not be allowed to open and operate their business until they have established their own compliant STPs.

It can be recalled that Boracay Water started its aggressive campaign to encourage connection to the company’s sewer network in March of this year. To date, about 120 establishments and residences have signified their intention to be connected to the company’s sewer system.

With the recent directive of DENR, the company is expecting to receive more applications for sewer connection even from non-Boracay Water customers. This will allow more commercial and residential establishments to discharge their used water into a reliable sewer system and ensure that it will be properly processed to comply with existing effluent standards of DENR.

Currently, more than 1,200 establishments and residences are directly connected to Boracay Water’s sewer network. For unsewered areas or areas with no existing sewer network, regular desludging or siphoning services are being done through the company’s desludging trucks which collect wastewater for treatment in the two sewage treatment plants of the Boracay Water located in barangays Manocmanoc and Balabag.

Ten native tree species up for species upgrade

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Tall with beautiful and bold yellow flowers, the Bagoadlau (Xanthostemon philippinensis) is a sight to behold. Found in the forests of Aurora, Camarines Sur, Samar, and Surigao del Sur, it is the hardest and densest of ironwoods, best used for construction. It is also one of the many tree species endemic to the Philippines. 

Unfortunately, rampant logging activities have reduced the Philippines’ once lush forest cover, threatening the species of bagoadlau and other native tree species. As the country began to industrialize, forests were cleared out for timber and for space to develop. To refresh these areas, the government and many private organizations have initiated different greening and other environmental programs. 

However, many of these greening programs are done indiscriminately, planting popular and familiar tree species like Mahogany, Acacia, and Gmelina, which are all foreign and exotic. Unknown to many people, these exotic tree species do more harm to the environment than good. The exotic species invade the biodiversity of our forests and disrupt its balance. This struck uncertainty whether our future generations will still be able to see the beautiful yellow flowers of the Bagoadlau. 

Thankfully, there was still hope in saving our forests. In 2008, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the largest vertically-integrated geothermal producer of the country, launched its BINHI program, a species conservation program that focuses on native tree species. A total of 96 threatened native tree species have been prioritized for this search and rescue program as their numbers have been dwindling, with some even believed to be extinct, making the program a pioneer in corporate-led reforestation programs in the country. Many of these identified species can only be found in the Philippines like Malinoag, Philippine teak, Batikuling, Yakal-yamban and the five endemic iron wood species – the Mangkono, Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, and Palawan Mangkono. 

The EDC BINHI team’s arduous search throughout most of the Philippines came into fruition as the 96 identified threatened species were all successfully found in our country’s forests. 

Going beyond rescue 

The BINHI team did not stop there. Just rescuing these tree species was not enough; the next challenge they faced was to multiply and propagate these species. 

To achieve this, EDC has continuously forested the watersheds within its geothermal reservations. Moreover, the BINHI team now has over 150 different partners from different academic and non-governmental organizations, all of which dedicate a specific area for planting of these tree species. 

The BINHI team, then, provides technical support and expertise related to the care of these trees, allowing for their healthy growth. These strategies ensure that more native tree species will be planted in many other areas beyond watersheds within EDC geothermal site. 

Moreover, to further achieve the goal of propagating these species, EDC entered a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau in 2016 under its Adopt a Wildlife Species Program, where selected threatened native trees under the BINHI program will have their ecological statuses updated, as a proof of their successful propagation. This is also in support of the government’s reforestation efforts. Under the partnership, 35 threatened species are targeted for upgrading within three years. 

Entering the partnership has allowed EDC to contribute to the national biodiversity conservation program, focusing on the updating of the Philippine red list of threatened tree species, the protection of the identified trees in surveyed areas, and the planting of these species to save them from extinction. 

Intensive inventory and geo-tagging were done on the first 10 species for status updating from 2016 and 2017. The results of these activities have shown that, through the propagation efforts made by the BINHI program, these 10 species now have enough numbers to have their ecological statuses upgraded with the DENR. These 10 species for status upgrading are the Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, Palawan Mangkono, Mangkono, Samar Gisok, Dalingdingan, Malabayabas, Yakal-malibato, and Yakal-kaliot, most of which are known for their strong and durable wood. 

Scientific breakthroughs 

Currently, the BINHI program is still the only corporate-led greening program that focuses on the rescue and propagation of threatened native trees, so the results of the inventory and geo-tagging are considered new and pioneering to the scientific community. 

Hence, the results will be submitted not just to the DENR for the updating of their ecological statuses, but also to different scientific journals, as contribution to the scientific community. 

With the success of updating the first ten species, 25 more species are still in the process of undergoing inventory and geo-tagging, with the next 10 species slated for upgrading this 2018, and the last 15 species in 2019. 

The BINHI (Filipino for seedling) program lived up to its name. It has planted and spread seedlings to grow for the future generation. This success means our future generations will still be able to see the striking and beautiful flowers of the Bagoadlau and other native tree species. 

Tall and adorned with bright yellow flowers, the bagoadlau is the hardest and densest of all Philippine ironwood trees. It is also one of the ten (10) threatened native tree species for updating of ecological status with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2017, after the successful inventory and geo-tagging of these species. These native tree species were propagated under the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) BINHI project, which focuses on native tree species rescue, preservation, and propagation. 

The Bagoadlau distinguishes itself from other Philippine ironwood trees through its stunning flowers, which exhibit a vibrant yellow color and stamens that resemble the rays of the sun.

The 3rd Integrated Waste Management Expo and Environment Summit

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The 3rd Integrated Waste Management Expo and Environment Summit, an initiative of the DENR - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is happening on August 10-12, 2017 at SMX Aura, Taguig City.

Aims to raise the bar of environmental awareness of consumers and beef up efforts in solving the rising problem of solid waste in Metro Manila and other urban areas in provinces across the country, the 3rd Integrated Waste Management Expo and Environment Summit is open to the public, including government agencies and non-government organizations. 

The Expo offers various activities like forums, talks and workshops that bear interesting topics on environmental protection, renewable energy, sustainable livelihood, and updates on consumer goods that help save the earth.

The Expo aspires to heighten a proactive awareness on issues that bear upon the environment and its ecological well-being. The ever-rising mountains of trash in our landfills, our rivers, waterways, and seas, is a serious matter of concern that has stared us in the eye for decades. 

Good laws have been passed, government efforts on alleviating garbage problems in Metro Manila and major urban centers across the country have seen improvements since R.A. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act” was put in motion in 2000. Amazingly, seventeen years later, we are still in neck-deep sea of rubbish. Major gaps cry out to be filled because the solution lies not only on laws or government effort, but at the source of waste itself — the consumers. 

The Expo hopes to boost efforts in promoting a deeper commitment among Filipinos in every household, business establishments, and institutions in achieving positive social and environmental impact. Visitors will gain invaluable information, instruction, and insight on eco-friendly solutions that is practical, cost-efficient and sustainable.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — the global battle cry for the environment resonates. Redesigning resource life cycles so that all products are reused, imitating nature’s sustainable cycles, would mean no trash is sent to landfills and incinerators — no more air pollution, no more water contamination. Changing our consumer lifestyles and practices is the solution to making this vision possible. 

We can bring about positive change if we work together as a nation — for the environment, for the country, for every Filipino. We hold the key.

The 3rd Integrated Ecological Waste Management Expo and Environment Summit is organized by DENR - Environmental Management Bureau in partnership with Department of Interior and Local Government, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Quezon City and Taguig City. 

Admission is free. For online registration, kindly visit environmentsummit.ph.

Biodiversity Bazaar At Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Opens October 15

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The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in partnership with EnPraxis, Inc. is organizing a Demonstration of Biodiversity-Friendly Bazaar to be held at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC), Quezon City.

This is in line with one of the goals of BMB, to promote biodiversity-friendly practices such as the development of Biodiversity-friendly enterprise. These are economic activities and practices of micro, small and medium enterprises, local government units and people’s organizations that promote the sustainable use of biological resources, create wealth and value and open opportunities for the equitable sharing of benefits among stakeholders and in the protection of the environment.

EnPraxis (LUGAR Advocacy Cooperative) envisions creating Agro-Ecological Hubs that pilot, incubate and model Ecopreneurship towards inclusive land and enterprise development. 

The Bazaar will be held every weekends from October 15 to December 2016. The event shall be a venue for local producers and community partners within protected areas, Biodiversity Partnership Program (BPP) sites, among others to showcase their products.

As an enterprise engaged in activities that promote the sustainable use of biological resources, EnPraxis invites the public, individuals and organizations to join in promoting environment-friendly products.

For exhibitors of social enterprise, organic and /or environment-friendly products and enterprises, kindly email Ms. Maritess V. Agayatin of the Caves, Wetlands and other Ecoystems Division at (02) 925-8950 or at cawed@bmb.gov.ph. 

For visitors, the park fees apply: PhP8.00 for adults, PhP5.00 for students and free for Senior Citizens and PWDs.

Grow A Million Trees (Earth Day Y2013)

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Trees are vital for a greener earth and healthy environment as they provide shade, clean the air and help cool the environment.

A commitment drafted and signed by SM Group of Companies and affiliates in the presence of DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) representatives held last Monday, April 22 at The Block, SM City North EDSA on the occasion of Earth Day 2013.

"SM's campaign for healthier and greener earth has never been this big." - Mr. Joey Mendoza

For years, SM has been an advocate of environmental conservation. The structures have evolved as the way new structures are designed not for aesthetcis alone. They are designed  in such a way that it also contributes to SM's vision. 

SM has a well-planned waste disposal system in every SM facility. SM has always been at the forefront of protecting and rehabilitating the planet. Programs for reforestation, coastal clean-ups and other environmental efforts have been created.

SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore's "Join the My Own Bag (Join the MOB) Campaign" started year 2009 as part of the vision of the Sy family to intensify the institution’s commitment to the 3Rs – Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle.

This was a bold move for SM Supermarket to take but SM was determined and prepared to endure the birth pains of pioneering such a program that aims to change aims the shopping habits of SM customers in exchange for the welfare of the environment.

Encouraging people to bring their own reusable bags in exchange for incentives for doing this. SM charged the costumers for every plastic bag request with a super minimal fee. Sm pushed the campaign that the people see and feel a big change with a small adjustments in their shoppng habits. People can see the bigger picture and in the end it was all worth it.

There are already 13 million people who regularly use the SM Greenbags preventing 39 million plastic bags from being released in circulation.

“The campaign rests in our hands; you, me, everybody. The key to success is for us to work together towards one goal,” Mendoza said.

“The money we've raised from the plastic bag sales during the M.O.B days have already begun funding several tree plantings and clean-ups nationwide but this time we've dreaming bigger. Just try to imagine how much trees we're targetting not just to plant but to nurture and to ensure that they grew into full healthy trees. 1 million trees ! That's enough trees to fill 500 soccer fields or almost 8500 basketball courts.” 

To ensure the longevity of the trees, SM will be planting them in DENR protected areas located in provinces: Nasugbu, Benguet, Calatagan, Cagayan De Oro, Banatocan, Bulacan, Cebu and Davao.

To date, the SM Group of Companies and Affiliates have already reached a third of the goal since 2009. They successfully planted almost 300,000 trees.

SM Group of Companies and affiliates come together towards a common goal - to make the dream of one million trees to make a reality.

More photos @ Facebook.