Solon launches school-based environmental awareness campaign
BACOLOD CITY – Fifth District Representative Ignacio T. Arroyo, chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, made rounds in public schools in La Castellana recently to encourage the youth to do their share in the protection and preservation of the environment.
Rep. Arroyo is the author of House Bill 4381 or "An act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education" which was already approved on third reading at the House of Representatives.
The proposed law mandates the inclusion of environmental awareness program in the school curriculum.
"We have a lot of laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and all that. But there is no awareness especially in our children. That's why we have made it part of the curriculum to be taught in school stating that there are such laws and acts to protect our environment," Arroyo said.
He said that this law is so important because "our future is in the hands of our children."
"We are all aware already that we have to take care of our environment. But our children are not aware of it and we decided to include it in the school curriculum to make the school children more aware of such laws and the benefits of a good environment," he said.
Arroyo said that once House Bill 4381 becomes a law, it will be adopted in the schools, hopefully by next school year.
Arroyo will also start talking to other congressmen about this law as the month of November is the Environment Month all over the country. "I will invite other congressmen to participate in the awareness program and we will be going school to school," he said.
More than 3,000 high school students in La Castellana National High School attended the environmental awareness campaign launched by Rep. Arroyo. He also went to Cabacungan to also spread the same awareness to the youth.
Congressman Arroyo was joined by La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor, Fifth District Board Member Enrique "Guding" Lacson, and Board Member Dr. Melvin Ybañez.