DepEd vows to engage, work on Earth conservation, preservation, restoration advocacy

As part of this year’s celebration of Earth Day, several officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed their commitment towards conservation, preservation, and restoration of the environment in their solidarity speeches during the agency’s National Earth Day Online Celebration last April 22.

In accordance with the theme “PINASiglang Mundo,” Sec. Leonor Magtolis Briones and other invited DepEd executives, such as Usec. for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua, Usec. for Finance Annalyn M. Sevilla, Usec. for Legislative Affairs Tonisito C. Umali, and Asec. For Procurement and Administration Salvador C. Malana III, reaffirmed their advocacy of taking actions and decisions that will benefit the environment through the important role of the education sector

The Department Chief stated that aside from making general statements and promises of protecting the planet, the people, especially from DepEd, must engage in activities that will help the environment; that’s why they started their campaign of reducing the production of modular materials.

She explained that as they relied on modular materials to deliver education despite the pandemic, many trees were cut down to provide paper, which results in wanton damage to nature and floods that will also destroy more printed materials.

“During the series of storms and floods, we lost billions of pesos in printed materials which were destroyed because of floods, and if more floods come, more materials will be wasted and billions once more will be spent to replace those materials,” said Briones.

Briones also added that DepEd aims to continue the learning process despite the pandemic through the reduction of dependence on modular materials and perhaps greater reliance on technology to reach every learner around the country.

“Sama-sama tayo. Let us hold hands together. Let us help each other. Let us share technology. Let us share new ways of delivering education and let us make sure that we reach the children in last mile schools and in conflict-afflicted area, without actually destroying our environment,” Briones affirmed.

She highlighted the importance of providing a quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating