Pres. Aquino interacts with young environmentalists

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1561441939849/pres-aquino-interacts-with-young-environmentalists
• Friday, September 11, 2015

By Carina L. Cayon (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

DAVAO CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA) – President Benigno Aquino III interacted with young students from public elementary schools here who earlier engaged in a tree planting activity dubbed as “TreeVolution of the Young.”

In one of his visits in the city on Wednesday, the President took time to hear the tree planting report from Grade 6 pupil leader Jirojunn Juri Lopoz, and answered five questions from student leaders on environment issues at Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School (TPGES).

Lopoz, president of the Supreme Pupil Government District Federation of Davao Central District, reported to the President what transpired during the tree planting which gathered 500 pupils including their teachers who planted 2,000 seedlings of fruit trees at Barangay Tigatto.

He told Pres. Aquino that a leadership training on climate change and taking care of the environment has inspired the officers of the SPG to adopt the theme “SPG Saves the Environment.”

“Because we believe that as young stewards, there’s a lot that we can do to help save and protect Mother Earth. Sabi po namin sa aming mga sarili, kahit kami ay bata, alam naming meron kaming magagawa sa kalikasan,” he said.

Lopoz took the initiative of upholding the care for the environment as a platform and advocacy of the school’s student government which he brought to the level of the SPG federation that covers seven public elementary schools within the Davao Central District.

This gave birth to the “TreeVolution of the Young” tree planting activity which gained the interest of Pres. Aquino who was personally invited by Lopoz in a visit to Malacanang in June this year.

Though the President was not able to join the tree planting in the morning of September 9, Lopoz expressed happiness when Pres. Aquino met with the young environmentalists during his “Visit to the TreeVolution of the Young” in the afternoon of the same day at TPGES.

“The presence today of our dear President Benigno Aquino III is a concrete sign that God favors the desires of a child’s heart,” he thanked the President.

The pupil leader said that aside from planting trees, the SPG officers also agreed to implement two other major activities such as cleaning the surroundings and helping recycle and segregate wastes by giving trash bins in every school.

Lopoz also included in his report that the tree planting participants have joined the One Million Filipino Youth Voices Campaign spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission.

“Upang ipaabot ang aming pakikiisa sa kampanya para sa kalikasan,” he said.

After the report of Lopoz, Pres. Aquino answered questions from the pupils, which included issues on how the government solves the problems on air pollution and illegal logging, and on how the young generation could help save the environment.

The President cited the implementation of the Clean Air Act and the efforts of the Climate Change Commission headed by Secretary Lucille Sering on promoting a good environment, as his reply to the issues on air pollution.

On the issue on illegal logging, Pres. Aquino replied, “Meron talagang pasaway e. Pero ang punto nito at marami sa Mindanao, ano. Hindi maraming pasaway, maraming insidente ng illegal logging. May mga liblib na lugar, mahirap bantayan.”

He told the pupils that the government continues to fight illegal logging, and that those confiscated illegally cut logs are made into chairs and tables for the use of public schools.

The President raised the importance of conserving water and power as he warned of the El Niño effect in the country.

He was also asked on how the K to 12 program of the Department of Education could benefit the children, in which he replied, “… Ang mungkahi dito, bigyan yung bata ng sapat na panahon para matuto ng buong-buo para makayang makipag-sabayan sa kaalaman ng maski sinoman sa buong mundo.”

After the dialogue with the pupils, Pres. Aquino honored a photo opportunity with the SPG officers and teachers of the seven public elementary schools under the Davao Central District, namely: Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School, Bolton Elementary School, Cesario Villa-Abrille Elementary School, Dona Pilar L. Marfori Elementary School, Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School, Magallanes Elementary School, and Wireless Elementary School.