MANILA -- An online game offering a PHP100,000 prize aims to help promote knowledge and activities that will benefit forests nationwide.
Local app-based trivia game show, "Paydro Live", will feature this Thursday (March 21) questions on the country's forests so people can learn more about these ecosystems, noted forest management specialist Hubert Riña from the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) which is sponsoring the contest.
"We're encouraging those who'll join the game show to prepare by learning as much as they can about our forests," he said.
He also urged the game's prospective players to learn about the annual International Day of Forests (IDF) which countries worldwide observe on March 21.
Anyone, anywhere can join the game, Riña said.
FMB continues its advocacy to help prevent further loss of the forest ecosystem.
Among the forests' benefits are providing food, water and raw materials, FMB said.
However, years of logging, slash-and-burn practices, and other factors reduced the country's forest cover, noted FMB.
The environment department and FMB are reforesting unproductive, denuded and degraded forestland nationwide through the National Greening Program.
Conducting the Paydro Live game is among the activities for this year's celebration of the annual IDF.
"Forests and education" is the 2019 IDF theme.
Riña said that through the Paydro Live game, FMB aims to bring its advocacy for forests to a wider audience particularly to 17- to 35-year-olds.
"We can use that game to educate around 30,000 people," he said.
A single symposium won't be able to gather that many people, he noted.
According to Riña, the Paydro Live game will begin at 12:30 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time).
He reminded prospective players to register before game day.
People can download the free Paydro app at either the Google play store or App store, he said.
FMB will divide the prize equally among players who will be able to correctly answer all the game's 11 questions on forests, said Riña.
The winning players may get their share of the prize through FMB's partner OVP Technologies Inc. which developed the app, he noted.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly declared March 21 of every year as IDF.
IDF aims to raise awareness about the importance of forests and these ecosystems' vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security. (PNA)
