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It was the growing list of environmental problems in 1978 affecting different areas in the country and the seeming lack of awareness and concern that a group of young people and their teachers from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (Delfin Ganapin, Jr., Dr. Percy Sajise, Sr. Aida Velasquez, Pastor Delbert Rice among others as convenors) were imbued to organize and call an environmental congress to signify their concern and the need for action in the problems of the environment.  In that first congress, the PFEC was born.

The PFEC was the first environmental network in the Philippines bringing together more than 200 NGOs-POs in its initiative to raise environmental consciousness and concerted efforts to find appropriate actions and solutions to environmental issues and concerns.
 

Despite the risks involved in advocacy work during the Martial Law period, the PFEC led campaigns against environmentally destructive projects such as the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, the Chico dam, the Cellophil Plant, the Kawasaki Sintering Plant, the export of logs and other host of issues.         

From the time of its establishment in 1979 to 1991, it maintained itself as a voluntary organization composed of individuals and organizations from all parts of the country and served as a hub for exchanges of environmental information and action on critical environmental issues.  In 1991, PFEC was given support by the Dutch Embassy to establish an office and formalize its organization.  This opportunity strengthened PFEC’s networking initiatives, forged linkages with organizations not only based in city/provincial centers but reached rural based organizations.
 
As more environmental networks were established at the regional and island-wide levels in the mid-90’s, the PFEC focused its energies in forestry issues and in providing services to people’s organizations engaged in community-based forestry.  Since 1996, PFEC has provided support and assistance to struggling people’s organizations in community forestry.
 

News/Updates

News
PFEC 16th National Environmental Congress
PFEC Holds its 16th National Environmental CongressManila, Philippines, November 16, 2011 – In celebration of the International Year of the Forest, the Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC) in cooperation with the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO) and Kerk in Actie, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), held its 16th PFEC National Environmental Congress with the theme, “People for the Forests, Forests for the Future: Evolving Trends, Maximizing Opportunities.” The congress took place on November 17-19, 2011 at Hotel Stotsenberg, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.This year’s congress focused on key players and actors on forest related issues from...Read more...
Ten Ways to Protect and Conserve Our Rivers, Lakes and Streams
1. PROTECT THE WATERSHED Maintain the area of the water reservoir forested and free from garbage and other harmful substance (e.g. pesticides, chemical fertilizer) which can cause negative impact to the ecosystem. Be vigilant and cautious for possible source of forest fire. If there are settlers in the area, encourage them to practice environmental friendly farming techniques like Sloping Agricultural Land Technology  and terraced cropping to prevent soil erosion. 2. PREVENT SOIL EROSION Eroded soil is one of the main reasons why rivers and lakes become filthy. There will be siltation in the river bed that can eventually affect its depth. To prevent soil erosion, plant veitver grass, tress seedlings, bamboo and ferns which can hold the soil. These are also plants which can thrive...Read more...
PFEC Campaigns for Planting of Indigenous Trees in Philippine Forests Rehabilitation and Development
The Philippines is known all over the world for its hardwoods. From 1972 to 1988, the logging industry leveled 8.57 million hectares of forest. During the same period, the industry devastated 3.88 million hectares of forest. Due to the unabated destruction of our forest, only 6-8% of natural vegetation remains. Considered to be one of the world's richest repositories of biological diversity, we have about 3,879, identified tree species of which 3,574 are indigenous and 305 are introduced species. Unfortunately, nationwide reforestation efforts have limited itself to planting a number of species-gmelina, mahogany and narra.Read more...

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