USJ-R sustainable, eco-friendly school

CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Jose-Recoletos High School was chosen as among the nine national champions in the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Smart Communications chose three champions for each year level category.

The USJ-R High School campus placed second in the high school category. The nine national champions were chosen from 45 regional champions representing elementary, high school and college levels last November 16.

For the elementary level, Iliranan Elementary School of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; Kibawe Central School in Kibawe, Bukidnon; and San Mariano Elementary School in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro were proclaimed as first, second and third placers, respectively.

Declared high school level champions were the Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City (1st); University of San Jose Recoletos – High School in Cebu City (2nd); and Daniel R. Aquinaldo National High School in Davao City (3rd).

For the college level, the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas in Cavite; Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa City; and Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City were awarded the first, second and third places.

It was DENR Assistant Secretary for Management and Finance Corazon Davis, representing DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje; Smart’s Community Partnerships senior manager Darwin Flores; DepEd’s Nutrition Division head Dr. Juan Araojo Jr.; and CHED Director William Malitao, who awarded the schools in Manila.

Paje described as “overwhelming” the schools’ res-ponse to the call for entries to the competition.

The national champions each received plaques of re-cognition and cash prizes of P50,000 for first place, P40,000 for second place, and P30,000 for third place. The awarding coincided with the celebration of November as National Environmental Awareness Month as provided under Republic Act No. 9512, also known as the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. (FREEMAN)