Schools to have rainwater, materials recovery facilities

MANILA, Philippines - Congress has ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to require public schools to have rainwater collection and materials recovery facilities.

Separate provisions in the General Appropriations Act of 2016 showed that legislators have mandated the DepEd to ensure the construction of the two facilities in all public schools in the country.

“DepEd shall require public schools to install rainwater collection systems to promote the efficient use of rainwater,” read the law, and “to establish a materials recovery facility in a suitable open space within the school premises to promote environmental awareness and action.”

The appropriations law said the RWCs must conform to the prototypes described by the Department of Public Works and Highways, while the MRF should be according to the guidelines under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Congress has also mandated DepEd to require public schools with available lands to establish vegetable gardens “through which the students shall be taught science and nutrition related to vegetable farming.”

Vegetables gathered through the project will be used for the school-based feeding program to be implemented by DepEd to address undernutrition among students.