The province of South Cotabato successfully celebrated Provincial Ecology Day with series of activities on November 17 – 18 that was joined by elementary pupils and high school students, City and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers, national government agency-partners and other stakeholders with this year’s theme “Empowering the Youth for a Green ASEAN Community.”
Elementary pupils and high school students slugged it out in the Environment Quiz Bee and Poster-Making Contest during the November 17 opening activities held at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center.
On November 18 (Provincial Ecology Day), three fora on environment issues such as “Smoke-Free Workplace,” by Jean Ventura of DOH-12, “Global Chemicals and Mercury Impacts on Children by Jimbea Lucino of Bantoxics and Climate Justice by Ian Rivera of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice were presented at PROTECH Center.
Highlighting the celebration were the awarding of winners of the different search or contests conducted by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO).
Awardees were the winning schools in the Search for Model Schools in Solid Waste Management and individual participants in the Search for Cleanest and Greenest Household in Lake Sebu.
Likewise, 2014 Hall of Fame awardees, Sto. Nino National High School and Polomolok Central Elementary School, as 3-time consecutive winners in the Search for Model Schools in Solid Waste Management (2012 – 2014), were given their respective check of P100,000.00.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) 12 represented by Bai Soraya Meditar and Engr. Philip Biboso, vice OIC-RD Maria Socorro Lanto, presented plaques of appreciation to the provincial government and its 11 component LGUs for the successful presentation and defense their 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan last October 8 at the National Solid Waste Management Commission, Quezon City.
PEMO likewise took the opportunity to thank all is partners with the presentation of plaques to the contest judges/valuators, City and Municipal ENROs, DepED City and Provincial Divisions, DILG Provincial Office, DENR-EMB 12, MAO – Lake Sebu, PASu-AVPL, DOH 12, Bantoxics, South Cotabato Foundation Inc., Mahintana Foundation, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and other partners in the private and business sectors.
