2 Cebu schools to compete in 2011 national finals

CEBU, Philippines - Two schools in Cebu have entered the finals of the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Simeon Ayuda Elementary School in Liloan and the University of San Jose-Recoletos-High School made it through the regional eliminations and will now compete in their respective categories at the national level.

Winners will be announced during the exhibition-cum-awarding ceremony that will be held on November 16, 2011 as part of the National Environmental Awareness Month.

Environmental Management Bureau Director Juan Miguel Cuna said the schools’ response to the call for entries was overwhelming.

“We were amazed by their creativity and their commitment in implementing eco-friendly practices,” Cuna said.

The nationwide contest is a direct response to Republic Act No. 9512 also known as the Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. It is also the Philippine Initiative in support to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (2008-2012) that calls for the establishment of sustainable schools in every ASEAN member-state.

The contest was also organized to highlight achievement of schools that are committed in implementing various environmental programs.

Now on its second run, the nationwide competition aims to recognize educational institutions from the elementary, high school and tertiary levels with the best sustainable and environment-friendly programs and activities.

“We need to start teaching our kids as early as we can to take responsibility in safeguarding our environment. Schools are dynamic focal points of learning and powerful vehicles of change. Parents and teachers can work together to spread the wonders of living an environmentally-smart lifestyle,” Cuna said.

Smart Communications has joined the activity for the second year as part of its corporate social responsibility and community service program called Kabalikat.

Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs, said Smart has been taking measures to practice environmental sustainability in its day-to-day operations and to promote ecological awareness and preservation to the publics.

“We encourage the youth to do the same and we know we can do this by working through their schools,” Isberto said as he expressed hope that the search will inspire more schools to go green and will influence participants to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. - THE FREEMAN