EMB-MIMAROPA JOINS CAMPUS TOUR ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN IN

The MIMAROPA offices of Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) conducted a campus tour on Climate Change Advocacy Campaign in City, Palawan on November 19-20, 2014.

The advocacy campaign with the theme “Nagbago na ang Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago”, targets schools and universities to improve students’ knowledge on Climate Change and its effects. For this activity, Western University (WPU) and Palawan National School (PNS) were chosen as target schools.

Three hundred (300) students from different colleges in WPU participated in the forum on the first day of the campus tour (November 19) while two hundred (200) high school students from PNS were in attendance on the 2 nd day.

Different lecturers were invited to provide information on Climate Change. Ms. Concepcion Angela S. Quijano gave lecture on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation while Ms. Teresa I. Caya shared her knowledge about Philippine Clean Air Act and Ozone Depletion. Both of them were from EMB-MIMAROPA Regional Office. Mr. Alex Marcaida and Ms. Melody Ponce de Leon of Palawan Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD) provided information on the effects of Climate Change on marine life in Palawan. Mr. Peter Widmann, the Vice President of Katala Foundation Inc. gave a talk about biodiversity and how climate change affects the wildlife in Palawan.

Aside from lectures, students were able to pose at the photo booth with standees symbolizing “SEGREGATE” “PLANT”, and “RECYCLE”. Participants signed at the commitment wall to write their pledge in protecting the environment. To motivate and boost the participation of the students, trivia questions were asked and prizes such as t-shirts, tote bags, candies, chocolates and umbrellas were given for every correct answer. This also served as a review and assessment to students if they really understand the lectures given to them.

The climate change advocacy campaign, which is a joint project of the Philippine Information Agency and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource, first held the campus tour in City, Oriental last September 17-18, 2014.

The speakers/lecturers of the activity (Top picture; from left to right: Mr. Peter Widmann, from KATALA Foundation, Ms.Teresa I. Caya and Ms. Angela Quijano from EMB-4B and Mr. Alex MArcaida from PCSD) answered questions during the open forum session.