DENR National Capital Region and St. Paul University-Quezon City (SPUQC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Friday, 24 June 2022, at the Manila Bay Operations Center, National Ecology Center compound in Diliman, Quezon City.
Under the agreement, SPUQC will adopt a National Greening Program (NGP) site at the La Mesa Water Reservation area and help DENR National Capital Region in ensuring that the seedlings planted in the site will be protected and grow healthy.
The agreement will run for (3) years, under which time the SPUQC will regularly conduct tree caring activities and other science-based interventions to guarantee the growth of the seedlings.
DENR National Capital Region Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan signed the MOA with SPUQC Vice President for Administration, Sister Cherryve Dagairag. SPUQC Dean of the Students Affairs Office and Community Development Advocacy Center head Monina Bello and Human Resources Director Catherine Abiva stood as witnesses.
Director Caancan said she is happy with the partnership as the regional office will have a new ally in the maintenance of NGP sites and in instilling environmental consciousness among the youth.
“We’re glad that learning institutions are reaching out to us as the academe is an integral component of environmental education and advocacy”, Director Caancan explained. “Even in the Writ of Continuing Mandamus on the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay, the Supreme Court emphasized the role of the academe (through the Department of Education), particularly in integrating environmental education in the school curricula at all levels”, she added. “We need more champions for the environment and we’re glad that St. Paul University of Quezon City is stepping up to the challenge”, Director Caancan stated. Sis. Dagairag, meanwhile, assured SPUQC’s support to the urban greening program of the environment department and pledges to involve their students in doing environmental activities.
The NGP is the flagship reforestation program of the government. It aims to reforest an estimated 7.1 million hectares of unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands of the country through and with the active participation and investment of the private sector to achieve carbon neutrality.
The program was first launched in 2011 through Executive Order No. 26 of then President Benigno S. Aquino III. It was originally set to expire in 2016 but was extended until 2028 through Executive Order No. 193, series of 2015.
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