SP moves for schools'
involvement in environmental education
By LAIMINH S. MABULAY & ADOR L. HURTADO
April 10, 2011
CATBALOGAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod recently passed a resolution urging the
Department of Education to take the lead in conducting school-based
Information, Education and Communication campaigns about Ecological
Solid Waste Management.
The resolution, which
was passed through the motion of City Councilor Stephany Uy-Tan last
March 30, 2011, urged the Department of Education-Samar through
Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Alfredo D. Dacuro to include
Ecological Solid Waste Management discussions in the school curricula
and take the lead in the Information, Education and Communication
campaign by reactivating the Youth for Environment in School
Organization (YES-O).
It was in September
01, 2003 when DepEd Order No. 72 series of 2003 was first issued
ordering the establishment of the Youth for Environment in Schools
Organization (YES-O) in every public and private elementary and
secondary schools. This move by the SP gets legal backing from RA 9512
or the "National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008",
explicitly mandates the Department of Education to conduct
environmental awareness campaigns, programs and projects.
Although the
resolution has yet to be personally handed over by Councilor Uy-Tan to
Dr. Alfredo D. Dacuro, the City Government of Catbalogan believes that
environmental preservation and solid waste management concerns must be
dealt with on various fronts and that educating young students on
these through activities like a regular ten (10) minute discussion in
science subjects, trainings, symposia and others can be an effective
strategy.
If reactivated,
environmental awareness campaigns would be very much similar to the
ones conducted by the Catbalogan I District Elementary School last
March 25, 2011 at the New Life Christian Center. Under the theme, "Sagip
Kalikasan, Sagip Buhay", Catbalogan I conducted a symposium on climate
change along with a video presentation and was participated in by
nearly a hundred students from the said school's Special Education
Class. The activity was conducted in cooperation with the City
Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In behalf of the
City Mayor Coefredo T. Uy, City Councilor and City Council Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources Chair Stephany Uy-Tan urged her
student audiences to do their own part in protecting the environment.
"We need to protect our environment because we only have one earth.
Not for ourselves but for our children and their future", she said.
The highlight of the event was the lecture given by DENR Forester Mr.
Baldomero Nunez who gave a comprehensive discussion on environmental
preservation and protection. At the end of the event, pupils from
Catbalogan I were informed and motivated on the immediate need to
protect and preserve our environment.
