Center for Environmental Concerns

Acronym: CEC Type of Organization: NGO Head of the Organization: Roberto Guevarra Address: 175-B Kamias Road Extension, Quezon City Telephone No.: (63)(2) 920-9099 Fax Number: (63)(2) 921-1531 Email Address: cec@psdn.org.ph robguevarra@iname.com Website Address: www.cecphils.org/

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Objectives
Established in 1989, the Center's main objectives are to promote awareness, knowledge and use of environmental protection and rehabilitation concepts and technologies, as well as conduct research and develop protection and rehabilitation models.

Activities

EDUCATIONAL WORK in the form of trainors' training, curriculum development, grassroots and sectoral workshops on environmental actions and other specialized topics; RESEARCH on environmentally harmful technologies and their alternatives together with rehabilitation strategies for environmentally degraded communities; ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT together with affected communities; DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES to serve as models for environmental rehabilitation; COMPILATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION on environmental issues for the use of partners and concerned researchers; and FACILITATION OF VOLUNTEER WORK in different non-government organizations and people's organizations for local and foreign individuals and groups.

Programs

Education and Training Department (ETD) - Basic Environmental Awareness to Action courses - Specialized courses Ecological Studies and Management Department (ESMD) - Integrated Evaluation System - Environmental Policy Studies - Administration Unit

Who we are
The Center for Environmental ConcernsPhilippines (CEC-Phils) is a non-government organization founded through the initiatives of organizations representing fisherfolk, farmers, indigenous peoples, women, urban poor, and professional sectors. Currently, the Center is a service institution based in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Its area of operation and networking covers the entire Philippines and different ecological contexts. At the grassroots level, CEC-Philippines closely works with communities and organizations nationwide, supporting their initiatives to nurture their ecosystems, defend their common access to natural resources, and eventually improve their living and working conditions in the context of a balanced and healthy environment. At the national level, CEC-Philippines advocates for people-oriented, patriotic, sustainable, and scientific policies and programs for the protection of the Philippine environment. At the global level, CEC-Philippines engage in information sharing, international networking, cross-cultural exchanges, and solidarity initiatives on common environmental issues and concerns.

History
CEC-Phils was born in 1989, in the larger context of a global environmental crisis and concerted NGO efforts to raise the issue of ecological protection as an international agenda. It started out by studying the depth and scale of Philippine environmental problems and issues and by conducting basic grassroots education activities among affected communities. In the 1990s, our mandate and expertise expanded to initiating non-formal adult environmental education programs, engaging in field research, and providing technical and scientific support services to communities. In the span of two decades, CEC has developed a systematic environmental education and training programs which can be easily adapted to specific socio-economic and ecological contexts. It has undertaken rural-based and community-centered adult education programs, conducted investigative studies on both local and national environmental issues, and produced written and audio-visual educational and informational materials. It has also maximized opportunities to educate the general public on pressing environmental issues through information and mass media campaigns.

Principles
Our Vision: A just, free, democratic, and prosperous society that considers the regenerative capacity and sustainability of resources and promotes and develops a balanced ecosystem through the proper use of resources, the utilization of ecologically sound and appropriate technology, and through the mobilization of the masses in all aspects of societal development, including scientific and technological research and development, and environmental protection and rehabilitation. Our Mission: Together with the peoples movement, the Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines envisions a strong environmental movement that asserts and gains reforms in the Philippine environmental situation, and advances pro-people, patriotic, progressive, and scientific environmental policies.

What we do
We work to cultivate environmental awareness and action, create a community of advocates, and contribute to the defense of ecosystems and peoples through empowering education, community-based research, and people-oriented, patriotic, and scientific advocacy. Education CEC supports adult learners from marginalized and ecologically-critical communities by developing and providing environmental education courses and training adult educators at the grassroots level. CEC's environmental education curriculum is aimed at helping people cultivating ecological awareness, critical analysis, and progressive action. Advocacy CEC pursues awareness and advocacy through various strategies: conferences and workshops, information and educational materials production, audio-visual productions, mobilizations and issue campaigns, cultural events and media work. This advocacy is supported by environmental and scientific studies which have served as useful references for communities, academics, advocates, and policy-makers. Community Service CEC strives to make a difference in the lives of its partner communities by providing scientific and technical support services for environmental issues, identifying alternative opportunities, mobilizing resources and volunteer support, and supporting worthwhile projects initiated by women, youth, farmers, indigenous peoples and fisher folks organizations