JULY 30, 2011

NR # 2480

Environmental education for Filipino students pushed

A lady lawmaker is seeking to institutionalize environmental education in the countrys education system to raise the level of environmental awareness of Filipino students in primary, secondary and tertiary levels and vocational schools. Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David (4th District, Manila) filed House Bill 4882, which mandates the promotion of environmental awareness among Filipino youth by teaching and exposing the students to the state of the countrys environment and informing them of the muchneeded protection provided under existing laws. Critical environmental laws such as Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; Republic Act No. 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999; Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act and the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 or Republic Act No. 9275 have to be disseminated properly and extensively, Bonoan-David said. According to Bonoan-David, the lack of awareness among Filipinos, especially the youth, of the existing critical environmental laws, have helped deter our environmental growth responsiveness. We need to create consciousness on the plight of our environment and on actions needed to be done to improve on its protection like waste segregation, recycling, forest conservation and management, clean emissions, clean water discharge, and marine conservation, among others, said Bonoan-David, Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Globalization and the WTO. The bill, to be known as The Environmental Awareness and Education Act, tasks the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to lead the implementation of the program through collaborative inter-agency and multisectoral efforts at all levels. In coordination with the DENR, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall formulate the Environmental Education Curriculum to be taught in elementary and high schools. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall include environmental education and awareness programs and activities in the National Service Training Program under Republic Act No. 9163, as part of the Civic Welfare Training Service component required for all Baccalaureate degree courses and vocational courses with a curriculum of at least two years. Bonoan-David said the teaching of proper attitude towards the environment at an early age until adulthood can create a domino effect on the health of the planet earth as well as its inhabitants. (30) jsc