Gideon C. Corgue
TUKURAN, Zamboanga del Sur – Students of Tukuran Technical-Vocational High School (TTVHS) have been encouraged by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 and Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9to help solve climate change problems.
In a forum on climate change adaptationjointly conducted here on Tuesday by the DENR and PIA, Regional Public Affairs Officer RoserviricoA. Tan challenged the students to do their share in helping solve climate change issuessaying that“its adverse impacts are already felt in our country.”
“We reach out to you students because it is you who would inherit this earth that is still livable with clean and healthy environment and life-giving natural resources,” Tan pointed out.
Tan said the climate change advocacy campaign pursued by theDENR and PIA is a project of the national government aimed at raising the level of awareness of the public on climate change mitigation and adaptation to lessen its adverse impact onthe humans.
Tan said“the campaign is truly a gargantuan task to perform by the agencies. That is why we need help from other sectors of society.”
“We are trying to reach out to the communities - especially the academe - to be our partners in helping us protect the environment,” Tan said, as he recognized the youth’s vital role in our society.
Tan explained the major effects of climate change particularly the extinction of living and non-living things. “The climate change has severely affected our environment,” Tan said.
Tan encouraged the students to support and the National Greening Program (NGP) by planting trees.
He also called on the students to support the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act otherwise known as Republic Act 9003.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Sur Information Center Manager Claro A. Lanipa emphasized that the said forum was conducted to address public apathy to climate change in order to engender active cooperation and support from all sectors.
Lanipa said this forum here was the second advocacy activity conducted by the DENR and PIA to public secondary schools in Zamboanga Peninsula. The first was held in Bayog National High School, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur on Aug. 22, 2014.