Save the Environment: Grow Oxygen-Exchange Units

The DepEd Order no. 33 s. 2008 established on May 8, 2008 led regional directors, superintendents and heads to further the action and on July 24, 2008, the action was sealed as the school received the memorandum.

The project, in cooperation with Barangay Calumpang, Barangay Fatima, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Youth for the Environment in School’s Organization, Citizenship Advancement Training and DepEd GenSan, commenced on September 10, 2008 wherein CENRO representatives conducted the Grow-a-Tree Orientation.

Later on, at September 17, 2008, the senior students of GSCHS started the actual planting activity by digging the holes along the road and took the whole morning to finish. Only sections Einstein and Brocka were delayed as they dug holes on September 18, 2008 along the side of GSCHS and H.N. Cahilsot Elementary School. Meanwhile other sections proceeded to plant their Royal Palms in groups of four along the road.

The students were seen that day trekking the road with shovels at hand waiting for the ENRO truck to disseminate the plant seedlings. “Some problems occurred such as the wrong position of some sections but the matter was resolved and things were looking good,” says Jose Paulo dela Cruz, adviser of IV-Galileo.

To stick the deal, the Grow-a-Tree Project Partnership Agreement signing was held at the AVR of GSCHS on September 19, 2088 attended by few students and involved clubs.

The event was attended by Cesar Veniegas, representative of Honorable Leonardo Tuyogon Sr. of Barangay Fatima, Carlito Cahilsot, representative of Honorable Cerillo Forones of Barangay Calumapang and CENRO Administrator Valiente Lastimoso greeted by 4th Year Curriculum Head Josephine Castillo and MT-I Officer-in-Charge Angelito C. Llanos.

After the arrival a short program was prepared in the Audio Visual Room. Llanos gave his insight that students must operate with the understanding that humans are one with nature. “We must sport a society that utilizes resources that the future generation can still use,” Llanos said.

Afterwards, Veniegas thanked the students and staffs of GSCHS for helping the environment become better. On the other hand, Lastimoso highlighted that the teachers should set about a good example for students to follow by becoming active in this program.

Cahilsot ended the speeches by saying that this program utilized youth’s energy as a solution to the fast depletion of trees brought about by the fast technological advancement. He also emphasized the fact that it students failed to grow their trees, they cannot graduate.

After the talks, the contract signing followed and certificate of recognition were given to the partners of the event such as the SSG and YES-O.