The Department of Education (DepEd) urged schools and other stakeholders to protect heritage trees in public schools and and further promote their importance especially among students.
“It is always a good opportunity for DepEd and for us educators to bring environmental education to homes and communities,” said Education Secretary Leonor Briones in a statement issued Tuesday, Nov. 2.
“Our country has been blessed with enormous biodiversity, and our heritage trees are one of our national treasures,” she explained. “We must appreciate and teach our young generation on how to further protect it,” she added.
During the 64th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Philippines’ Heritage Trees in Schools,” DepEd also called for the protection of heritage trees in public schools and promotion of its educational and historical values.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Learner Support Services – Youth Formation Division (BLSS-YFD) Chief Adolf Aguilar also shared the importance of environmental education and the ways DepEd spreads the concept of biodiversity to the youth in times of pandemic.
Aguilar noted that through the YES-O, National Greening Program (NGP), and Gulayan sa Paaralan sa DepEd, the agency continues to advocate and create immediate actions for the environment.
“Ang YFD ay patuloy lamang sa pag-promote ng mga advocacies na ito para sa kalikasan (The YFD continues to promote its advocacies for the environment),” he added.
The online discussion was organized in partnership with the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.
Importance of heritage trees
The BLSS-YFD also presented the NGP and the recently conducted “Search for Heritage Trees in Public Schools,” which is a program that aims to revive the accounting and inventory of heritage trees in all public schools nationwide to intensify the preservation of the country’s biodiversity.
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua spearheaded the search to protect centennial trees that serve as landmarks of schools.
Guest teachers Jenelyn Alberto of Kaligayahan Elementary School, Nolito Roque Alvarez of Alabang Elementary School, Rodolfo Cardinez Jr. of Carcarmay Elementary School, and Freida Cawaling of Albasan Elementary School unveiled their schools’ efforts in protecting and preserving their century-old native trees.
They also explained the significance of these trees in the lives of students, teachers, and themselves personally.
“Iba pa rin ‘yung first-hand na nae-experience nila kasi mas magiging malalim ang appreciation nila (The first-hand they experience is still different because their appreciation will be deeper),” Alberto said, noting the value of letting the younger generation experience the benefits of having trees.
“Ipinapakita namin ‘yung historical significance ng puno at kung gaano kaganda at kabuti na mayroon pa ring naiiwan na mga ganitong puno sa paligid natin despite of the development and economic improvement natin (We’re showing the historical significance of the tree and how beautiful and good it is that there are still such trees around us despite our development and economic improvement),” she added.
Alberto also expressed hope that the public will not neglect the environment despite economic growth.