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| DepEd Ilocos Norte Superintendent Vilma D. Eda, NLREC CSR manager Maria Meliza Principe and YGOAL representative Irineo Demecais Jr. during the MOU signing for Learning Laboratory at a hotel in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. (Cherry Joy D. Garma) |
ByCherry Joy D. Garma
Contributor
LAOAG CITY— To foster environment-friendly schoolchildren in Ilocos Norte, the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. (NLREC) in partnership with the Department of Education in Ilocos Norte have established a learning laboratory in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
The laboratory hub, located at the Caparispisan wind power plant will benefit at least 12 elementary schools under the supervision of the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDOIN), and other host communities of NLREC.
During the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 31, 2019, DepEd-Ilocos Norte superintendent Vilma D. Eda expressed support to the project as the division also advocates environmental protection in schools.
“We commit that the division will truly support the program and all of you in Pagudpud in doing this project because I believe that every person in this planet should really be thinking about environment protection,” said Mrs. Eda.
She also urged the school heads to lead the schoolchildren in preserving the environment and be a model themselves.
“Power and influence [are] not really about position, it’s all about what you do. You cannot really influence them if you do not manifest it yourself. So, start with yourselves,” she said NLREC Corporate Social Responsibility manager Maria Meliza Principe who hopes that the program will help the learners in their understanding about the environment, and the existing issues on climate change.
“We hope to bring this project to other parts of the country and more youth will benefit in this program that we are starting in the NLREC together with the teachers in Pagudpud,” Ms. Principe added.
The learning laboratory will showcase the environmental protection projects of the NLREC to include their forestry and greening programs, which the learners can go and visit for a field trip.
Topics about climate change and biodiversity will also be included in the curriculum of elementary students in English, Science, and Edukasyong Pagpapakatao subjects.
The projects were launched in 2017 with the preparation of modules and lesson plans by the teachers and the YGOAL, Inc., a consultant to the program.
Mrs. Eda is optimistic that through the program, all school children and the teachers will be able to appreciate environment protection and start it even in simple ways like waste segregation.
“We should not be leaving the responsibility of protecting the environment to some group of people alone because it is the responsibility of each one of us,” she said.