Villar receives global honor for decades of environmental advocacy

Former senator Cynthia Villar received international recognition for her longstanding dedication to environmental protection, sustainable development, and community empowerment during the ASEZ Global Forum organized by the World Mission Society Church of God in Bundang, Seongnam, South Korea.

ASEZ, the youth wing of the World Mission Society Church of God, honored Villar for her outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship — an acknowledgment that reinforces her decades-long work in river rehabilitation, waste management innovation, and livelihood development.

In her keynote address, Villar praised ASEZ for mobilizing university students across 175 countries to champion climate action, community service, crime prevention, and emergency response. She said the group’s initiatives reflect the same values that have guided her environmental advocacies for over two decades.

Villar highlighted the transformative gains of the Villar Foundation’s flagship Las Piñas–Zapote River Rehabilitation Program (Sagip Ilog), launched in 2002 to restore heavily polluted waterways and address chronic flooding in the city. Beyond cleanup operations and the humane relocation of informal settler families, the program introduced pioneering livelihood enterprises that turned water hyacinths and coconut husks into community income sources.

The program has received numerous global recognitions, including the UN Habitat & Dubai International Award for Best Practices (2006), International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice (2009), Oikos Global Case Writing Competition in Switzerland (2009), UN Water for Life Award – Best Water Management Practices (2011), DENR-NCR’s “Kampeon ng Katubigan” Award (2018), Gawad Taga-Ilog 2.0 Environmental Champion Award (2022), Energy Globe Award “Certificate of Honor” in Austria (2022), and the UNAP Human Rights Awards for Poverty Alleviation (2024).

Villar also cited other sustainability projects such as waste-to-compost processing; plastic recycling converted into durable school chairs; and the construction of the Las Piñas River Drives, which improved traffic flow and reduced air pollution. She reiterated her long-running defense of the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park, a Ramsar site recognized as a critical habitat for migratory birds and a natural flood barrier.

Broadening the discussion beyond environmental protection, Villar spoke about her push to advance Philippine agriculture through the creation of farm schools, the promotion of urban gardening, and support programs for farmers and fisherfolk. She said these community initiatives complement the environmental and agricultural laws she championed in the Senate, including the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility Act.

“These awards and programs reflect our unwavering commitment to conservation, sustainability, and empowering communities,” Villar said. “But beyond recognition, true progress lies in institutionalizing these advocacies so future generations inherit a healthier world.”

Closing her speech, Villar encouraged youth participants to take an active role in global environmental movements.

“Let us work hand in hand to make our world a better, safer, and more peaceful place for generations to come,” she said.