Pioneer Adhesives launches community, environmental efforts in Palawan

• Source:http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/living/pioneer-adhesives-launches-community-environmental-efforts-palawan
• Wednesday, July 20, 2016

(Malaya Business Insight)

Republic Chemical Industries Inc. (RCI), maker of Pioneer Epoxy, and its affiliate Pioneer Adhesives Foundation Inc. (PAFI), have recently conducted community relations and environmental efforts last July 15-17, 2016 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan during a three-day event that includes a Bangkarera competition, mangrove planting and reef awareness activities.

The “ 1st Pioneer National Bangkarera” competition, a boat reace for fisher folks and boat racing enthusiasts, was held from July 15 to 16 at the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa and have gathered members from local fishing communities, as well as boat racers and delegates from all over the country.

“ The competition was initially served as fellowship among the fishing communities and also as kickoff of RCI’s long-term plan to establish sustainable livelihood projects in the future for the fisher folks in the country,” Marie Grace Panganiban, Pioneer Epoxy assistant manager, shared.

RCI and PAFI are also bringing their campaign “Our Earth. Our Responsibility” to Puerto Princesa following the implementation of a coral restoration activity in Boracay last year. The project involves the planting of 1,200 mangrove seedlings in Brgy. San Jose as well as the kick-off of its Coral Restoration Program entitled “Reef Fix “ in Tangdol Reef, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao. The event marks the start of the PAFI-DOST (Department of Science and Technology ) partnership to help restore coral reefs around the country.

Coral Bleaching is a global concern and the Philippines Islands are not spared. It has been identified that 90% of the corals in Tangdol Reef have suffered from bleaching and have been severely damaged. According to the local divers, the degradation is the effect of sea surface temperatures increasing and possibly due to UV- radiation exposure which was caused by EL NiÑo. The year 2016 has been registering record high temperatures globally.

PAFI and the DOST are building a partnership to address this environmental concern. The DOST has been using Pioneer EpoxyClay Aqua in its coral restoration projects in areas across the Philippines. According to them, the use of this product has resulted in higher success and survival rates of transplanted corals.

“With the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), we are partnering with Puerto Princesa City through their City Agricultural Office (CAO) to bring our coral restoration efforts to Palawan. Palawan has such rich biodiversity and we would very much like to take part in its preservation, “Martina Spakowski, PAFI executive director, stated.

RCI has committed to donate 2,500 tubes of Pioneer EpoxyClay Aqua to the city government which is expected to yield a minimum of 12,500 transplanted coral fragments to the reef of Puerto Princesa. PAFI, on the other hand, is set to donate bouys with solar powered light to the city of Puerto Princesa. The bouys will be deployed in Tangdol Reef to protect the coral nursery and the areas surrounding it.

Both the “1st Pioneer National Bangkarera” and “Reef Fix: A Coral Restoration Program” events are supportive of a healthier Philippine ocean and its immediate stakeholders in the sense that fisher folks participating in the Bangkarera are the ultimate beneficiaries of PAFI’s coral restoration program. Pioneer Adhesives is intent on creating programs that support sustainable and responsible fishing.

These programs are aligned with RCI’s overall mission to spearhead green initiatives to protect and conserve the environment through responsible practices in its business activities. Among RCI’s efforts include developing products that are low in toluene, and conserving power by utilizing solar panels in its Canlubang plant in Laguna.