Two hundred fifty students of Baguio Central University students took part in planning for the city’s environment and climate change programs after a series of lectures from technology, eco-consciousness and sustainability experts.
BCU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Elma Donaal welcomed City Environment and Parks Management Office Assistant head Engr. Marivic Empizo, assisted by Engr. Jhomer Samoranos, lecturers from the Saint Louis University, the Department of Science and Technology, and other offices for the first series of the eco-consciousness lectures.
The students who actively participated are from the colleges of Criminal and Justice Education, Teacher Education and Liberal Arts, Engineering, Nursing, Business Administration, Hospitality and Tourism Management.
The students focused on rain harvesting, recycling and reuse, smart water distribution, leak detection and repair mostly in the school environment.
They proposed water conservation measures in the campus in coordination with school authorities and utility workers.
Also being eyed are advanced filtration, aquaponics, dewatering, sedimentation and recycling to achieve nutrient recovery through innovative technology – the separation of solid wastes and conversion into usable forms.
They also identified a solid waste program entails a four-day information and educational seminar, clean-ups, collection of trash and fashion, in coordination with National Service Training Program students.
Land development within the school area was seen as problematic, yet BCU students suggested vertical gardening to make most of the space and have funds by selling the produce.
Enterprising students requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to see the possibility of having broken glass as part of the traffic light “cat eyes.”
The participating student body offered to help landscaping the school’s remaining open land areas or in converting them into ecological parks within a year.
The students also volunteered to beautify city parks in coordination with the City Engineering Office, Cepmo, and other offices.
Tree planting and nurturance and maintenance of green covers are also in the students’ environmental calendars.
All activities are in consonance with the 3rd Saleng Festival, the city-initiated environmental program with the theme, “Amplifying Voices for Environmental Advocacy.” – Julie G. Fianza
