Brunei Times writer wins World Bank ecology award

http://bt.com.bn/environment/2008/04/18/brunei_times_writer_wins_world_bank_ecology_award

THE Benguet-based environmental group Pine Tree founded and led by Ford Foundation Fellow and Echoing Green Foundation Fellow Dr Michael A Bengwayan won the World Bank funded award of Panibagong Paraan 2008 for an ecological project to prevent further dengue infestation in La Trinidad, Philippines. Bengwayan also writes for The Brunei Times. 

The award, worth one million pesos ($32,000), was made yesterday by World Bank Philippine Country Director Bert Hoffman at the awarding of the 2008 Panibagong Paraan 2008 at the SM Megamall Cultural Trade Center. DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero represented the government. Bengwayan accepted it for Pine Tree.

Every two years, the World Bank together with different international funding institutions bring together government and non-government agencies to compete for the most inovative project awards that can bring foster community development in the fields of basic services, environment, livelihood and good governance . This year, more than 500 applied, 99 made it to the finals and only 31 were awarded.

Pine Tree earlier won the Toyota Foundation 2007 Environmental Award, the National Geographic Society Award and the King William III of Netherlands award on forestry. 

Pine Tree is an educational, training, research and information center promoting environmental justice, indigenous peoples' resource rights, anti-biopiracy and community-based seeedbanking 

Pine Tree's project on dengue prevention will make use of early warning systems, volunteer search and destroy groups, production of dengue natural enemies and mosquito plant repellants.

The Brunei Times