By
Alfonso T. Ruda
DAPITAN
CITY - The Philippine Information Agency-Zamboanga del Norte
Provincial Information Center (PIA-ZNPIC) in partnership with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Education
(DepEd) has conducted on Friday, Oct. 10, the second leg of its advocacy forum
on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation at the Dapitan City National High
School (DCNHS) this city.
A
total of 210 students consisting of officers and members of the science club,
YES-O and Supreme Student Government (SSG) participated in the said activity
with their science teachers.
Barangay
officials and a health worker of Barangay Banonong also turned up during the
forum.
In
her welcome message, Master Teacher Regie Bait-it representing school principal
Sherlito Sagapsapan, pointed out the importance and relevance of the forum to
address the ill-effects of climate change.
Bait-it
thanked PIA for choosing DCNHS to be a part of the campaign, urging the
students to listen attentively to the video presentations and lectures during
the forum.
PIA-9
Assistant Regional Director Franklin P. Gumapon cited the importance of the
forum and explained to the participants the factors that contribute to climate
change such like the use of fossil fuels by big factories, vehicles and other machineries.
Gumapon
shared his experience in Tacloban City which was hardly-hit by super-typhoon
Yolanda late last year and his recent trip to Taganak Island where he
personally witnessed two of the 5 species of turtles found in the Philippines.
Taganak
island is one of the islands comprising Turtle Islands municipality in the
province of Tawi-tawi.
The
forum was conducted to promote awareness on climate change among the youth
particularly the students as well as the community to come up with an
appropriate and comprehensive plan of action to mitigate the impact of climate
change on the humans.
The
activity ended up with the election of officers of Climate Change Youth
Advocates, recitation of the Kalikasan Pledge and commitment signing.
PIA-ZNPIC
has targeted six fora to be conducted in the province this year.
