BACOLOD CITY, Dec. 1 (PIA6) — As an off-shoot of the environment camp recently held at the Bacolod City College campus, 43 college student-campers organized themselves into an environment and climate change advocates’ group.
After a day discussions on climate change and wildlife, the campers decided to elect officers who will respond to the call of the government urging the youth to take an active role in protecting the environment as well as advocate in mitigating and adapting to the global Climate Change.
It was emphasized during the lectures and deliberations that massive forest destruction largely contributed to major floodings and other calamities that claimed thousands of lives of Filipinos, particularly Ormoc flood and super-typhoon Yolanda.
Deforestation also poses serious threat to a balanced wildlife ecosystem where wild animals and plants are deprived of their natural home resulting to their poor population growth and eventually extinction, Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Ornithologist Philip Godfrey Jakosalem said.
Irresponsible lifestyle like littering and wasteful behavior of humans are also destroying the environment he added.
BCC Administrator Johanna Ann Bayoneta, Ph.D. approved the students’ decision saying “we should go beyond what we have heard and seen today.”
College Department Head and Dean of Instruction Elias Alivas, Ph.D., urged students to become good stewards of God’s creation.
DENR Forester Gina Gerangaya was the resource person during the open-forum while Jakosalem spoke on the uniqueness of Philippine wildlife particularly bat species that are only found in Mambukal Resort, Bacolod City.
Jakosalem said the PBCFI can assist the newly formed environment group in training on Zoo keeping course, biodiversity trainor’s training course and wildlife-environment tour guiding.
Earlier in the program, the campers planted 53 Calamansi fruit tree seedlings in the campus garden.
The PIA Negros Occidental and DENR spearheaded the activity capping the six-month climate change advocacy activities for schools in Negros Occidental. (JCM/Lljr-PIA6)
