Let’s Stay Clean, Green and Pristine

    The University of the Philippines Foundation (USPF) NSTP class attended an environmental awareness seminar spearheaded by a non-profit organization “PANAGTAMBAYAYONG”. This was held last November 11, 2016 at the University Covered court.

    The seminar tackled on many environmental issues that could harm our environment and to our own lives respectively.

    Solid waste management was discussed by Vice Mayor Artillano of San Francisco Camotes, an outstanding mayor awardee. He explained about the importance of proper waste disposal and how we can still make use of it. VM Artillano and his group have started with a waste analysis of the entire Cebu’s waste percentage versus the land designated for it, Inayawan land field. They have realized that waste has increased exponentially over the years while the land remains exactly the same, at times decreasing. Thus, their group took the initiative to mobilize the community to take part on finding the solution and implementing it. Finally, they have sorted out the solution to solid waste management through recycling, vermin composting and waste segregation. To mobilize everyone, the group has decided and implemented some citations and penalties to whom ever caught not following the community rule through community service.

     Buss Rapid Transit (BRT) was lectured by Attorney Raffy Yap. He explained about the current survey standing of traffic here in Cebu. Based on the survey, Cebu has marked as the number one in the worst traffic in the whole nation. This has bothered our local government thus, empowering the CITOM to find for a solution. The current proposed project they have is the BRT or Bus Rapid Transit project. This can be compared to the MRT in Manila but instead of making use of trains, it will make use of 176 private busses. A map showing the stations in Bulacao, Ayala and Talamban for example were already put into place. There were still proposed designs of the station that is still on review. The main goal of this project is to minimize the traffic by providing a fast, safe, elegant and affordable public transportation to the commuters.

      

      The lecture on Renewable Energy was discussed by Mr. Navia from Sanlakas. He explained the difference between renewable energy and Coal Plants. Based on studies, coal mining is not considered as a renewable energy. However, the media seems to take this as renewable and has plants of coal has already rooted the region. There are still more Coal plant constructions that are waiting to be approved. And according to his field work, citizens who lived nearby the plants are in high health risk of respiratory diseases and illnesses. His message ended encouraging everyone to be proactively disagree about these pending plants constructions through signature campaign.

     The seminar aims to spread awareness in the aggressive climate change and how we, the students and the citizens of our country can help in our own ways to make our environment clean, green and pristine.