The Bonuan Buquig National High School (BBNHS) in Dagupan City, Pangasinan won $50,000 as the World's Best School prize in the Environmental Action category of T4 Education, the Department of Education (DepED) announced.

T4 Education is a global organization dedicated to providing engaging tools, initiatives, and events for educators and schools that help improve the quality of education.

Out of 10 shortlisted schools worldwide, DepEd said that BBNHS won first prize with their Ilog Ko, Aroen Ko (My River, My Care): mangrove tree planting project that helped rehabilitate the Longos River after it was ravaged by typhoon “Pepeng” in 2009.

Launched in 2010, the IKAK project is maintained by the past principals of BBNHS.

Currently, mangrove tree planting activity is carried out twice a year, where fruit-bearing and shady trees are planted and environmental research has also been launched.

Citing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DepED noted that the school has already planted 50,000 mangrove trees in the Longos River which has provided livelihood to the community.

During the awarding ceremony, BBNHS School Head Dr. Renato Santillan congratulated the BBNHS Team Bakawan Philippines. “We have gone this far only driven and powered mostly by passion and the community,” he said. “We promise to continue this endeavor of environmental action until our last breath,” he added.

To maintain and expand the program, DepED said that the school plans to allocate the winning amount to the construction of its nursery for seedlings of mangroves and other trees for the entire city of Dagupan.

Santillan explained that aside from the benefits that mangrove tree planting provides to the locals, the advocacy maintains the balance of our ecosystem which is the extensive and connective ecosystem that will safeguard them from the impacts of climate change.

“We hope that this humble endeavor reaches more people to act now to be one of us in saving mother nature through sustainable solutions,” he added.

DepED said that BBNHS was able to beat the International School of Zug and Luzern of Switzerland and the Green School of Bali in Indonesia as top finalists in the Environmental Action category.

In the screening process that took place, DepED explained that each school showcased its respective projects and proved its impact on maintaining the quality of education and the community.

Meanwhile, DepED said that there are also other Philippine schools included in the shortlist of the Top 10 World's Best Schools under the Community Collaboration and Supporting Healthy Lives category: the GL David Memorial Integrated School in Balanga, Bataan and Malitbog National High School in Calinog, Iloilo.