To recognize their efforts in conserving and protecting the environment, the Department of Education (DepEd) commended 10 schools through the “Search for Heritage Trees.”
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua, in a statement issued Wednesday, July 21, shared that discovering century-old trees and their cultural and biological value “will help us understand the importance of conservation and environmental protection.”
To highlight the importance of environment to schools and communities, DepEd the recently concluded Search for Heritage Trees Awarding Ceremonies held virtually on June 30.
The top 10 winners who were able to preserve their respective century-old trees include Padre Burgos Central School (Region IV-A, Quezon); Partida I Elementary School (Region III, Nueva Ecija); Tungngod Elementary School (CAR, Ifugao); Sumacab Elementary School (Region III, Cabanatuan City); Tinawagan Elementary School (Region V, Camarines Sur); Carcarmay Elementary School (Region I, La Union; Kaligayahan Elementary School (NCR, Quezon City); Bogo Central School (Region VII, Bogo City); Iling Elementary School (Region IV-B, Occidental Mindoro); and Tuguegarao West Central School (Region II, Tuguegarao City).
On behalf of the DepEd, Pascua congratulated the winners and those who participated in the Search for Heritage Trees. “Your efforts will create a ripple of change towards the preservation and conservation of trees and the environment in your respective schools and community,” he said.
In his opening message during the awarding ceremony, Pascua also emphasized the significance of conservation and protecting the environment to schools and communities.
“Layunin natin nahubugin ang kabataang Pilipino na may kaalaman, pagpapahalaga at pangangalaga sa kapaligiran at kalikasan ng ating bansa (Our goal is to shape the Filipino youth with the knowledge, appreciation and protection of the environment and nature of our country),” Pascua said.
Through this program, Pascua said that schools become “living laboratories” and the students are given the opportunity to discover and study the “biological and cultural value of the trees” around them which are often unnoticed.
Aside from the recognition, the schools included in the top 10 also received laptop bags, shoes, and flash drives to help implement distance learning.
Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Licensed Forester and Digital Illustrator Hubert Dale Riña also discussed the importance of heritage trees in biodiversity and its policies during his talk.
Riña emphasized the different priority programs in the country aimed at protecting the environment which include the National Greening Program, National Forest Protection Program, and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) strategy.