Negros, Naga to represent Phl in ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards

MANILA, Philippines - Environment Secretary Ramon Paje announced that students and teachers of a school in Negros Occidental and another in Naga City will represent the country in the 2012 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Eco-Schools Awards to be held on July 17 to 18, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The announcement of the participation of students and faculties of Iliranan Elementary School in Negros Occidental and of Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City, came after a report by Malaysia in the 4th Meeting of ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education (AWGEE) held May 29 to 30, 2012 in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The 2012 ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards is organized by the Government of Malaysia in partnership with Hanns-Seidel Foundation, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Japan-ASEAN Integrated Fund (JAIF) and the ASEAN Secretariat.

“This early I would like to congratulate the students and faculty members of these two schools for championing environmental protection in their campuses. Teaching the kids to do simple things like tree planting and the 3Rs of solid waste management will go a long way in shaping up an environment-conscious nation,” Paje said.

He also said the international recognition would serve as an additional incentive for schools in the country to level up their respective environmental education program.