MANILA – To intensify preparedness against extreme heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it has integrated El Niño preparedness campaigns with the Youth for Environment in Schools Organizations (YES-O) activities while boosting the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP).
This is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen climate resilience through youth empowerment.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the significance of continuous behavioral change for environmental actions among learners.
“Kapag ang kabataan mismo ang nagtatanim ng mga resilient na pananim sa Gulayan sa Paaralan at matipid sa paggamit ng tubig, hindi lang natin pinahihigpitan ang proteksyon ng ating mga paaralan, tinuturuan din natin silang maging masinop at handang mamamayan (When the youth are the ones planting resilient crops at the Gulayan sa Paaralan, alongside water conservation, we are not just tightening protection in schools, we are also making them prudent and ready citizens),” he said.
In particular, the El Niño preparedness campaigns are integrated into more than 35,000 YES-O in public schools, with promotions focused on water conservation, urban gardening and climate resilience.
This school-level approach complements the ongoing tree-planting activities and cleanup drives of YES-O.
To date, the DepEd is implementing a nationwide synchronized tree planting program involving drought-resistant native tree species and mangroves.
The strengthened GPP, meanwhile, allows learners to prioritize short-cycle and drought-tolerant crops in school gardens.
These include munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati and kamote, crops that are also intended to support the School-Based Feeding Program.
For water conservation, learners will help set up rainwater harvesting systems in public schools.
They will also learn how to adopt simple drip irrigation techniques and mulching, as well as schedule garden watering to minimize evaporation.
The agency said it is coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government units and non-governmental organizations to ensure schools remain safe and sustainable learning spaces. (PNA/Stephanie Sevillano)
