OVER two hundred students from two Cagayan de Oro City–based universities declared strong support to save the environment during a climate change forum on April 25 at the Liceo main campus.
The organizers conducted the forum even to create awareness among the youth, and their roles and responsibilities in environmental protection as their future will be severely impacted by their indecision today.
The forum dubbed ‘Planet First, Fight for a Livable Planet; Forum on Climate Change Adaptation: Managing Urban Wastes’ was attended by the students from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) NSTP Department and BS Environmental Science, and Liceo de Cagayan University (Liceo U).
The forum which highlighted waste management avowed a shared responsibility between the people and the local government.
Partnered by non-government organizations, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) brought a climate action forum to the schools in Cagayan de Oro in the hope to urge more youth to take part in protecting the environment.
The event also saw the presence of Dr. Rosella O. Ortiz, Liceo U College of Arts and Science dean, as well as Engr. Rene Diguingguing represents the office of Governor Peter Unabia, Clint Pacana, USTP Agropolis Techno-Park Development In-Charge, and Angelie Collera, Head, Center for Human Development-USTP.
First speaker city’s local environment and natural resources office (Clenro) head Engr. Armen Cuenca touched upon the critical situation of urban waste in the city, where he emphasized the need for effective waste management strategies that prioritize sustainability and social equity.
Cuenca in his message, assured during the forum that the collected garbaged was being managed even from the households.
“Use of compost pits and reusing and recycling of plastics, and putting other recyclables to the barangay MRF so that these items do not have to end up at the landfill,” said Cuenca.
While Engr. Chaira P. Patriana of Environmental Management Bureau-10 discussed practical ways to manage waste and reduce its impact on the environment.
Patriana also shared best practices and innovations in waste reduction and disposal in the region as well as encouraged the participants to consider how they could incorporate these strategies into their own lives and communities.
PMCJ Mindanao coordinator Rara Ada encouraged and even call to action for climate justice and the declaration of a climate emergency in the city.
She stressed to the participants to recognize the urgent need for systemic change and to use their voices and actions to demand it from the local government.
The event was also graced by the presence of Dr. Rosella O. Ortiz, the Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Liceo University de Cagayan, as well as representatives from the office of Gov. Peter Unabia, represented by Engr. Rene Diguingguing, Clint Pacana the Agropolis TechnoPark Development In-charge of USTP, and Angelie Collera, Head of the Center for Human Development-USTP.
