DENR holds first leg of GNH lecture series in Davao

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (October 20, 2016) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) began on Tuesday a nationwide lecture series promoting Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a model of economic development and metric of national progress.

Secretary Gina Lopez led DENR officials in welcoming the participants to the first leg of the GNH lecture series and workshop on sustainable area management held in Davao City, featuring Dr. Saamdu Cheri of Bhutan's GNH Centre.

Lopez said she wants the Philippines to follow Bhutan's model of measuring GNH, which gives equal importance to non-economic aspects of well-being in quantifying social and national progress, apart from the usual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Coined by Bhutan's fourth king, His Majesty JigmeSingye Wangchuck, GNH is based on the four pillars of good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.

"I want to explore on a societal level, take on something more sublime than money," Lopez told the participants that include Mindanao-based local government and DENR officials, indigenous peoples, and members of people's organizations, civil society and the military.

Lopez said the lecture and workshop will serve as input to area development planning to be done in 10 identified priority areas in Regions 10, 11, 12, 13 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DENR plans to use an integrated development and management approach to address poverty and deliver social justice to marginalized communities across the country.

"Ang DENR ngayon ay gagawa ng programa para sa pag-unlad ng komunidad. Kung magagawa natin dito sa lugar nyo, ang pag-aalaga at pagmamahal sa kalikasan ay aangat ang buhay ng tao. Kaya nga ang sinasabi natin: pwede pala, kaya natin," Lopez said.

In his lecture, Chetri emphasized that the GNH approach to development begins with "change in one's self."

"If we do not look after ourselves, how can we help others? We have to change our inner environment so we can change the environment outside us," he pointed out.

The concept of GNH has been introduced to the United Nations and brought about the celebration of the International Day of Happiness on March 20 of every year, as per a resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly. This also led to the first International Meeting on GNH and Economic Development in 2012. 

In 2013, Bhutan submitted its World Happiness Report to the U.N. The development components in the report have been incorporated in the U.N. development goals.

"Bhutan is happy that we are able to contribute in a very little way to the world in a different platform," Chetri said. 

He added: "If we can transform ourselves, development will happen naturally and automatically."

The Ateneo de Davao University was the first venue of the GNH lecture. The Visayas leg of the GNH lecture series will be held at the University of San Carlos in Cebu on October 20. 

In Luzon, lectures will be held at the Ateneo de Manila University on October 22 and the University of the Philippines in Diliman on October 24.

Chetri will also conduct a special lecture for members of the media at the DENR central office in Quezon City on October 21.

(By Jong Cadion with PR)