Camarines Sur National High School finest eco-friendly school in PH

LEGAZPI CITY, November 23, (PIA/DENR) -- Never settling for its 2009 second place honor, the Camarines Sur National High School (Cam High) in Naga City triumphed among the country’s eco-friendly schools and managed to get the national championship this year.

Known among the academe for its sustainable environment friendly programs, Cam High was adjudicated as Bicol’s most eco-friendly school in school year 2011, which further pushed its environmental programs and projects to the fore of the school’s curricula.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada praised Cam High for its back-to-back win as among the most eco-friendly high school in the country today.

“This should serve as an inspiration among our local academe, to do well and strive harder to pursue a green institution, wherein students are highly aware of their roles in keeping our environment sustainable and protected” Director Fragada said.

Awarding Ceremonies

The DENR, together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Smart Communications, has named nine schools as the national champions of the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools.

Handing out the awards in simple ceremonies held Wednesday (Nov. 16) at the SM City North EDSA were DENR Assistant Secretary for Management and Finance Corazon Davis, representing DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje; Smart’s Community Partnerships senior manager Darwin Flores; DepEd’s Nutrition Division head Dr. Juan Araojo Jr.; and CHED Director William Malitao.

In a speech read by Davis, Paje described as “overwhelming” the schools’ response to the call for entries to the competition. “The contest was launched so that schools will participate more actively in environmental programs. We hope that in doing so, the students will also encourage others to adopt sustainable practices,” Paje said.

The nine national champions were chosen from 45 regional champions representing the elementary, high school and college levels. For the elementary level, Iliranan Elementary School of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; Kibawe Central School in Kibawe, Bukidnon; and San Mariano Elementary School in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro were proclaimed as first, second and third placers, respectively.

Declared high school level champions were the Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City (1st); University of San Jose Recoletos – High School in Cebu City (2nd); and Daniel R. Aquinaldo National High School in Davao City (3rd).

Meanwhile, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas in Cavite; Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa City; and Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City were awarded the first, second and third places for the college level.

The national champions each received plaques of recognition and cash prizes of P50,000 for first place, P40,000 for second place, and P30,000 for third place. The awarding coincided with the celebration of November as National Environmental Awareness Month as provided under Republic Act No. 9512, also known as the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008.

Now on its second run, the nationwide competition aims to recognize educational institutions from elementary to college levels with the best sustainable and environment-friendly programs and activities. It is the Philippines’ initative in support to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (2008-2012), and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). (MAL/RLMendones, DENR V)

DTI, DAR partner for “Plant a Tree Program”

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, November 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have forged partnership for the massive planting of the pili trees here in support to the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government.

Pili, considered as a high value crop of of Sorsogon has been also identified as one of the natural environmental trees to be planted to ensure adaptation and mitigation to the ill effects of climate change.

DTI Sorsogon through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (SMEDC), also coordinated with local officials in the propagation of the said high value crop.

Leah Pagao, provincial director of DTI Sorsogon, said that pili has already gained a niche in trade fairs as Bicol's best commodity champion in sales, truly marketable and an export earner for the region.

Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Program (CARP), beneficiaries here were also trained and tapped to plant throughout the province with seedlings supplied by the Department of Agriculture.

Alleviation of poverty, according to Pagao is one of the main objectives in the massive planting of pili hand in hand with environmental conservation and economic development enterprise.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thrusts’ and the provincial government of Sorsogon’s initiative to harmonize efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation through pili planting will be one of the continuous activities of the province to be undertaken.

Resource speakers from DA have also been tapped to provide more information to CARP beneficiaries in the proper propagation of the pili tree.

Meanwhile, seedlings were also distributed to 100 beneficiaries region-wide and proper validation of areas for pili plantation has been identified already.

The" Plant a Tree Program" has already been recommended by DENR as Secretary Ramon Paje of DENR during his visit here.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Albay hosts celebration of World AIDS Day in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, November 23 (PIA) – It's all system go for this year’s World AIDS Day celebration in Bicol to be hosted by Albay, according to Albay Board Member Herbert Borja, co-chairman of the Albay Provincial AIDS Council.

Borja said Albay will host this year’s celebration set on December 1 and 2 with the theme – Getting to Zero for discrimination, zero new infection and AIDS related deaths.

Borja said that event on December 1 is the Street Walk information drive to be participated in by various organizations from both from private and public sectors including students of different colleges and universities. “The objective of the Information caravan is to increase awareness on HIV and AIDs prevention.”

On December 2, a policy congress on Getting to Zero will be held in Casablanca convention hall which will be highlighted by the presentation of the Rapid Assessment of the Vulnerability (RAV) result. This study was conducted in the municipalities of Bacacay, Sto Domingo, Guinobatan and Ligao City. RAV is one of the activity of the Albay AIDS Council and Department of Health (DoH) to determine the magnitude of Most At Risk Population and its vulnerabilities on HIV and AIDS.

The policy congress aims to validate the result of the RAV and formulate immediate measure to address gaps and concerns on the prevention of HIV and reduce the number of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) specially among Men who are Having Sex with men (MSM).

Meanwhile, Gayon Albay ( an organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender) will also launch the Human Soul Exhibit in Pacific Mall Legazpi on December 2. The Human Soul Exhibit actually promotes anti-discrimination legislations that would help eliminate stigma and discrimination among the LGBT community. This activity is in partnership with the United Nations development Progra, Health Action Information Network, Lad-Lad, Bluethumb, Alliance Francaice de Manilla, The Library Foundation-Share and pacific Mall Legazpi.(MAL, PIA V)

Christmas Cheers set to start on Dec. 16

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 23 (PIA) -- The annual 13-day Christmas Cheers in the province will start on December 16, 2011 to be held every night at the Plaza Rizal in Virac, Catanduanes.

Performing groups/ schools will sponsor one night of delight which is one of the most awaited Yuletide entertainment festival in the entire island. Usually, performing groups are given two hours of performance.

The schedule and sponsor for each night is as follows: CSC Hablon Dawani (Dec.16), CSC Laboratory Schools (Dec. 17), Virac Pilot Elementary School (Dec. 18), JMAMES/Taytay Elementary School (Dec. 19), Buyo/Calatagan/Palta (Dec. 20), Virac Central/Antipolo/Igang (Dec.21), CNHS (Dec.22), CC/Ville St. John (Dec. 23), Music Avenue Band (Dec. 26), Star Kids (Dec. 27), Little Ms. Christmas Cheers (Dec. 28), 2nd Christmas Serenade Choral Competition (Dec. 29), and the Provincial Government on Dec. 30.

Major sponsors of the said event are Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish, Congressional District Office, LGU Catanduanes, LGU Virac, DPWH Catanduanes, Marriage Encounterers, Catanduanes Tribune, Catanduanes Contractors Association, Mountain Care & Hikers Association, Abuad Enterprises, FICELCO, Catanduanes Tulungan Club and Rotaract Club. (MAL/EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)