Re-green, Reuse-Reduce-Recycle

Condensed from activity reports prepared by Joanaviva I. Caceres and Aireen M.S. Bigay of the USIC Environment Cluster; photo credits – Myrna Abad of University Infirmary and USIC Environment Cluster 2009

The last in a series of four tree planting activities led by the Center for Community Development’s National Service Training Program among AdNU’s faculty, personnel, and student volunteers in barangays Antipolo, Sta. Cruz, of Buhi and in Atulayan of Sagñay, Camarines Sur marked the end of the school year with a shift in color and task.  From green to color-coded and many-sided solid waste management (SWM) campaign among communities in the pilot barangays of the university’s other partner municipalities, the cluster’s advocacy program started up to peak mobilization in summertime.

A total of 158 pupils-students and LGU participants from Cabusao’s barangays of Sta. Cruz, Castillo, Pandan, Biong, and Barcelonita participated in SWM workshops facilitated by the USIC Environment Cluster in 21-22 October of last year and capped by an environmental play performed by the Ateneo EAGLES last 8 November.

In 1 February 2009, around 25 student members of the Ateneo Nature Crusaders laudably conducted, upon request, a similar workshop among 125 students of Sta. Lutgarda High School Cabusao.  The INECAR staff facilitated a training of instructors and a dry-run for the Nature Crusaders to ensure target outputs of the seminar-workshop. 

A typical SWM seminar-workshop is composed of 2 parts:  Awareness-raising and commitment-building.  In the Cabusao workshops, the first tackled the types of solid waste locally generated in a day according to source, volume, place of disposal in its final form.  Staff and student resource persons from the cluster also discussed the problems resulting from each type of generated solid waste.  Advocacy planning constituted the last part of the workshop where participants envisioned their idea of an environmentally sound school, community, or barangay.  A doable plan of activities from local legislative action to cleanliness drive, information campaign on waste segregation, recycling projects development, tree planting, and school/community organizing among other activities was crafted.

Working to save the environment is indeed a tall order. Whatever it takes think globally, act locally.