by Mercedes Carizal and Florelyn Alang
“Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends” is the guiding principle of Pagudpud South Central Elementary School in coming up with their environmental initiatives that aim to reduce, if not eliminate the scattered plastic within the school and even around the school vicinity.
The different environmental programs and activities of the school made it possible for them to attain the Best in Anti-Plastic Implementer recognition in the PGIN’s 2019 province-wide search of “Cleanest and Greenest.”
Basura Mo Ipon Mo, Premyo Mo Program, launched December of 2018, aims to address the problems on Solid Waste Management being experienced by the school. The objective of the program is to provide school supplies to learners in exchange of the plastic and other waste materials that they pick up or clean in the school vicinity. This taught the learners how to segregate waste materials, and also brought out the artistic nature of the learners in coming up with arts and crafts made from recyclable materials like flowers, vase, chandelier, pillows, bottle canopies, fence, blocks and tiles, eco bricks, and Christmas decors. Benevolent stakeholders generously donate school supplies in support of the program. Barangay and SK officials even adopted the said practice and is now enforcing it in their community.
Another worthy program is the Search for Eco-friendly Sitio and Sitio-Kubos. This is a community-based program that taught community members to implement segregation and recycling practices to clean and maintain their respective areas in the barangay. This practice was recognized by the local government unit of Pagudpud and the school was awarded as 1st runner-up as the most Eco-Friendly School in 2018. They were also awarded as 1st runner-up in the 2019 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly School (regional level).
Their Butterfly Garden was also awarded a Php10,000 grant for the realization of a natural habitat for butterflies. Another Php10,000 grant for their school proposal on Solid Waste Management from their partner, North Luzon Renewables. “The challenge of maintaining a clean, plastic-free school and community is our advocacy. We had made our barangay where our school is located as the model of best practices when it comes to solid waste management. This is our inspiration, and the driving force for us to continue with what we had started,” said school principal Mercedes Carizal.
