Youths from different parts of the Philippines joined the bamboo planting activity at Teacher’s Camp, Baguio City in celebration of Earth Day on April 22.
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – More than 200 youth leaders across the Philippines pledged to support environmental initiatives within their communities and contribute to sustainability and efforts to combat climate change.
The youth leaders are among the participants in the 7th National Youth Environmental Summit (NYES) held from April 21 to 23 at Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City, where they took part in an Earth Day oath-taking ceremony and a “thumbmark tree” activity.
Marie Frans Nicolay, a Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad from Cagayan de Oro City, said the youth sector holds important responsibility to lead the action against climate change. She called for the participation of youth to achieve this goal.
“Sana po ay makiisa sila sa mga efforts. Kami pong SK officials mula sa iba’t ibang barangay ay gumagawa po talaga ng paraan para makagawa ng activities or initiatives na makatulong sa aming community. So, we’re hoping na sana ‘yung mga kabataan sa mga community ay makibahagi din po sa initiatives ng kanilang mga Sangguniang Kabataan,” Nicolay said.
Alliance for Green Philippines Inc. president Clifford Espinosa also emphasized that it is about time for the youth to make a move for the environment.
“Parati nating i-emphasize na kayo ‘yung may energy, kayo ‘yung may oras, panahon ninyo na tumulong. Actually, napakainit na ng environment. Ngayon, sino ang kikilos? Kayo ang kikilos, sa sarili ninyong pag-iisip, sa initiative kasi ang dami niyong panahon at oras at galing, gamitin natin ‘yan, mag-respond tayo sa climate change,” Espinosa said.
One of the sustainable campaigns promoted during the summit is the practice of zero waste management among individuals and communities. This is to mitigate the different effects of climate change.
Maria Agnes Garcia, a Board of Trustees of Zero Waste Baguio Inc., said taking relevant action to combat climate change is a choice, and that choice makes a big difference to the future of the country and of the next generation.
“The youth have a crucial role because they’re actually fighting for their future, and it is a future that we, as their elders, painfully have not paid attention to or have not been so conscious of. We just continued to throw, and they’re now reaping the impact of it,” she said.
“So, having these young people stand up today and be part of this 7th National Youth Environmental Summit is a big deal because it gives us hope that they will go home to their provinces, to the different islands in the Philippines, and make a difference. Kasi ang impact natin, malakas tayo as an individual—but when we all connect together, the power of one multiplies immeasurably,” Garcia added.
The NYES is just one of the opportunities to promote green initiatives and sustainable development practices. [JDP/DEG/Aryan Joy Soliman-PIA CAR-DMMMSU Intern]
