MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to mobilize 25 million students nationwide to plant one tree every year in schools, communities and other designated areas such as key watersheds, in line with its Makakalikasan core value.
“By involving our learners to each plant a tree every year, we will not only further educate them about reforestation but also bring to their consciousness the importance of preservation and conservation of one of the most basic resources: water,” Education Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua said at the Annual Million Tree Challenge (AMTC) recognition and pledging day led by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System in Quezon City.
The AMTC is a call to arms for its partners to continue to give focus and priority to the environment.
“It is timely in the wake of massive flooding, catastrophic landslides, and devastating loss of livelihood and lives due to climate change. We all have to do our part, in our own capacities. Each of our departments, agencies and organizations should help in the task of reforesting and rehabilitating our watersheds,” Pascua said.
The DepEd is in the process of reviving one of its greening programs, the “School in Garden,” a program aimed to empower learners to make their own schools green and colorful by planting native and endemic plant species in their campuses, extended into their homes and communities.
Public elementary and secondary schools have the Youth for Environment in School Organization (YES-O), which is tasked with projects and activities to address the issues and concerns on the environment and ecology, according to Pascua.
“Through the YES-O, tree planting activities such as the Annual Million Tree Challenge becomes a more doable and concrete exercise for our learners to accomplish,” he said.
“We understand our important responsibility to mold our youth into holistic and dynamic citizens of this country who are eager to contribute to its path to development and greatness,” he added.