DENR launches search for most eco-friendly schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now accepting nominations for the most environment-friendly and sustainable schools in the country.

Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) director Jonas Leones said the “2015 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools” is open to all public and private elementary and high schools, colleges and universities.

“The competition seeks to encourage schools to become more actively involved in environmental issues at the local level. It recognizes academic institutions with the best eco-friendly programs and activities,” Leones said.

The deadline for submission of nominations is April 10, and the winners will be announced in November.

“This is to give schools more time to prepare and enhance their existing eco-friendly programs. We are hoping to encourage more schools to participate and take part in heightening environmental awareness among our youth,” Leones said.

The national search is organized by DENR-EMB, in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education and private sector partners.

Launched in 2009, the competition was a direct response to Republic Act No. 9512 or the Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. It is also the country’s initiative in support of the declaration of 2012 as ASEAN Environment Year and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, from 2005-2014.

Participating schools can register online at

www.sustainableschools.ph and submit their entry in three hard copies to their respective DepEd division offices for public elementary and high-school categories, and to EMB regional offices for private elementary and high-school entries, including higher education/college category.

The minimum requirement for judging will be the hard copies.

Entries can also be submitted online in JPEG format with a resolution of 300 dots per inch, a minimum size of 1536 x 2048 pixels, and a maximum file size of 1Mb.

Entries may be emailed to [email protected].

The top entry per category for every region will be forwarded to the EMB central office in Quezon City for national judging.

Entries should reflect the theme “Sustainable and Eco-friendly Initiatives.”