Youth tapped for environmental protection

The DENR eyes wider involvement of the youth in addressing environmental problems, particularly in Metro Manila through its Eco-CORPS Project or Environment Conservation through Citizens’ Organized Participation and Support.

Eco-CORPS is a new project being conceptualized by the DENR to maximize youth’s participation on environmental protection advocacy and action by enriching the current tertiary curriculum relative to the implementation of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001. Specifically, the DENR will offer schools with modules on various aspects of environment and natural resources to be adopted in its Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), an NTSP component that refers to activities contributory to the general welfare and betterment of life of the Filipinos.

Aside from environmental modules, Eco-CORPS project will offer learning laboratories or practicum areas in order to expose the students on the actual environmental conditions to ensure internalization and application of environmental concepts and principles learned. Beyond this exposure, the project will secure the commitment of schools to sustain the efforts started by their students by getting their cooperation in adopting the practicum areas.

The concept of Eco-CORPS is a recognition of the important role the youth play as a prime catalyst of change in our society. Such has been evidence by their activism in responding issues of local and national concern. The DENR has high hopes that the youth would welcome this project not only because the generation is the immediate beneficiary of an enhanced environment but also because of their growing awareness on environmental issues that needs to be supported for them to be motivated to act accordingly.

At present the DENR has started consultations with the concerned agencies in order to facilitate the acceptance/adoption of environmental modules and opportunities for practice. Specifically, the consultations with the following agencies are geared towards the following: Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in order to evaluate the modules and recommend them to tertiary institutions; Department of National Defense for additional modules/activities in ROTC; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for incorporation in their curriculum; and DILG to ensure the sustainability of the activities started in the locality, a memorandum of agreement will formalize the cooperative efforts.