By Anthony Giron
IMUS, Cavite — Imus has launched the first Green School program that will promote environmental awareness among the citizens, particularly the youth, and take measures and actions that will care and protect Mother Nature.
Monday’s launching was made by the local government, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned agencies at the Imus National High School-Main Campus, a national awardee having been a pilot and model school on environmental undertakings and other activities.
The Green School program is the first in the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) area. The program had long been being practiced in the United States and other progressive countries and populous developing countries in Asia like India and Indonesia.
The program involves students, teachers, school officials, parents and concerned sectors in the caring of plants and trees, water and energy conservation, cleanliness, waste segregation, cleanliness, plastic use and anything that will keep the environment healthy.
The Green School was made after the local government under Mayor Leonardo Maliksi entered into a long-term venture with the DepEd, DENR and other agencies.
The Green School program “cannot be made overnight, we will take a long journey to realize it,” Maliksi said in his message during the program launching.
The program includes the putting up of solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems and sewerage treatment plant and electronic vehicles or e-vehicles.
The initial four actions will help in the promotion of renewable sources of energy, improvement of water quality as well as water and energy conservation, it was gathered.
“We (also) envision the City of Imus as the city of the future through the establishment of modern, green and sustainable programs,” Maliksi said.
The launching was attended by Vice Mayor Arnel M. Cantimbuhan, DepEd, DENR officials, City Councilors Dennis T. Lacson, Exequiel Ropeta and Argel Reyes, department heads, barangay captains, officials from different public and private schools and other sector officers.