Around 200 youths and teacher-moderators gathered in Davao City Water District’s 16th Eco-camp organized by the Community Relations (ComRel) Division of the Community Relations and External Affairs Department (CREAD) last May 25 to 27, 2016 at Malagos Park in Baguio District, Davao City.
Themed “#YouthACT”, the activity aimed to empower the youth participants from 14 high schools in Davao City to play major roles in environmental conservation. ACT in the theme stands for Acceptance, Change and Transformation which calls for the younger generation to accept their intergenerational responsibility as future managers of the environment that will help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Opening the camp was DCWD’s CREAD manager and official spokesperson Bernardo D. Delima Jr. who explained the rationale of the theme for this year’s eco-camp. Special guests were third District City Councilor Bernard E. Al-ag representing president elect and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XI representative Camilo Victoria who gave messages of inspiration and encouragement to the youth in taking the lead towards environmental protection and conservation.
The eco-campers underwent an extensive environmental education program by participating in a two-part environment lecture with DCWD’s Environment and Watershed Protection Division watershed management chief Lorna M. Maxino who discussed the present state of Davao City’s watersheds and Ateneo de Davao University Tropical Institute for Climate Studies director Lourdes R. Simpol who presented situationers relating to climate change. DCWD’s Water Quality Division water utilities management officer Ricardo P. Corcino also discussed the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene in the “How’s your WASH?” forum.
Another highlight of the camp was the back-to-back #YouthACT series dubbed “Panaghimamat” led by Kirby C. Dimas of Missionary of God’s People Christian Fellowship for the youth to accept the challenge of their intergenerational responsibility to save the world and “Awakening” facilitated by Associate Feast Builder Alwyne Jan Perez of Light of Jesus Family to awaken the hero inside each youth and become transformed after accepting the challenge. The youth responded by expressing their own perspective on acting and campaigning on environmental protection and conservation through painting.
Alongside learning, the eco-camp was packed with fun, tours and contests. To deepen the youths’ understanding of watersheds, the campers toured the DCWD Malagos watershed area and facilities in “Suroy sa Kinaiyahan” and joined the “Sa Mata ng mga bata” photography, “Pinta Kalikasan” poster-making, “Hugot Kalikasan” essay writing and junk art contests with the theme “Climate Change: My Responsibility”.
Winners in the contests were as follows: photography contest champion was Pee Jay Arabis of Jose T. Quiboloy Sr. National High School with his photo entitled “Vein of Life”, first runner up was Lindsey Mavit Cabahug of Los Amigos NHS and second runner up was Chana Ariela P. Magno of Tacunan HS with photos entitled “This is what we need” and “Matter of Life” respectively; poster-making contest champion was Ken Carlo I. Corbito of Mulig NHS, first runner up was Nicole A. Majarreis of Dacudao NHS and second runner up was Ohbith R. Balcos of Mintal Comprehensive NHS; essay-writing champion was Jerve Robin P. Villanueva of Baguio NHS of Arts and Trades, first runner up was Adrianne John A. Nuñeza of Mintal Comprehensive NHS and second runner up Rhea Joy S. Alcano of Ma. Cristina P. Belcar Agricultural HS; and junk art champion was Dacudao NHS with Tagakpan NHS and Mulig NHS as first runner up and second runner up, respectively.
The 16th Eco-camp was capped with the general synthesis delivered by ComRel Division manager Jennife D. Borong challenging the participating schools to use what they have learned in the camp and act towards environmental protection and the induction of the Watershed Management Youth Council new set of officers by Atty. Delima
The campaign continues with a series of environmental advocacy activities such as forums and distribution of information, education and communication materials to reinforce learning of the participating schools. (Katrina Belen M. Roble)
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