The participants of the DENR’s eco-friendly schools contest during the awarding ceremony. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), recently named the country’s “greenest” and most sustainable schools in its 4th National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools (NSSES).
The nationwide competition, launched in partnership with the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education and private institutions, including Smart Communications, was designed to help develop the skills and understanding among students, faculty and school administrators in initiating active responses and increasing community awareness and involvement on environmental concerns.
This year, the winners in the college category are Foundation University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (landed on the 1st place), St. Paul University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and University of La Salette in Santiago City, Isabela (2nd place), Central Bicol State University in Pili, Camarines Sur (3rd place).
The top three in the high school category are Bintawan National High School in Villaverde, Nueva Ecija; Baguio City National High School in Baguio City, Benguet; and Sumoroy Agro-Industrial School in Palapag, Northern Samar.
In the elementary school category, Divisoria Elementary School in Santiago City, Isabela landed on the first place, Ara-al Elementary School in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental secured the second place spot, and Bonuan Boquig Elementary School in Dagupan City, Pangasinan finished third.
“The NSSES is a level up from environmental awareness. The competition pushes the schools to develop programs and create practices in their schools and communities that can actually help reduce carbon footprint and change people’s behavior towards the environment,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs.
A staunch advocate for the environment, Smart has been supportive of initiatives that promote conservation and protection of the planet.
The company has been a partner since 2009 when NSSES was first launched.
The nationwide tilt, done every other year since 2009, is being implemented in accordance with Republic Act No. 9512, otherwise known as the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008.
The winners of the national search are automatically sent as entries to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards.