CPU Bio-Diversity on Wheels Team together with GSFFAAAI Officers, Guimaras Provincial Capitol officers and Hon. Samuel T. Gumarin, Governor, Province of Guimararas (second from right).
Central Philippine University Community Engagement and Service Learning Center (CESLC) in cooperation with CPU Office of Communications and the Good Shepherd’s Folds Academy Alumni Association, Incorporated has embarked on a Conservation Outreach Program in Buenavista, Guimaras, with the Haribon Foundation’s ‘Biodiversity On Wheels’ project.
Kudos to Prof. Levi O. De Los Santos (CESLC Director) for bringing along an Audio-Video Van (courtesy of Haribon), and a Video Coverage equipment and Crew (thanks to Rev. Francis Neil Jalandoon, Director Office of Communication) for their full support during the environmental roadshow presentation at the Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy.
The environmental program extends to community awareness and commitment to change. The Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy which sits on a hill overlooking Iloilo City and some coastal communities in Buenavista, Guimaras is the beneficiary of the program that includes a workshop for Senior High School students, a lecture forum and community consultations on environmental concerns.
The team, composed of Prof. De los Santos, Dr. Aries Roda Romallosa (CPU Agri-Engineering Professor), Dr. Myrna Luceño (CHM Outreach Coordinator), Mr. Cyrus A. Natividad (GSFAAAI President and CPU Media Relations Officer), and Mr. Dionisio Coronado (CPU TV) took a RoRo-ship to Jordan Guimaras early at 7: A.M. last Friday, March 9, 2018.
At 9:00AM, the team dropped by the Guimaras Capitol to make a courtesy call at the Office of Guimaras Governor Samuel T. Gumarin. Helena Vilches Quezon who is the first licensed environmental planner of Guimaras accommodated the team on behalf of Gov. Gumarin, who went ahead to GSFA.
In an interview of CPU TV with the Governor at GSFA, Gumarin announced the approval of the budget for concreting the main road of the campus. The project which was proposed by the GSFA Alumni Association, Inc. is very significant to the environmental development cooperation undertaken with CPU-Haribon. Gumarin who is an alumnus of the Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy thanked Central Philippine University and Haribon Foundation for its Biodiversity on Wheels outreach program for the privilege given to GSFA.
The Roadshow Presentation started at 10:00 A.M. with the Senior High School and their faculty. Mr. Natividad, on behalf of the G.S.F.A. Alumni Association, Inc. welcomed the participants and acknowledged guests, faculty and staff and the team of CPU- Haribon project.
Prof. De los Santos gave a brief backgrounder of the CPU-Haribon Diversity on Wheels outreach project. Ms. Quezon expressed environmental concerns on Guimaras and conveyed the provincial government’s support for the environmental activities at the GSFA; adding that, “ We do not want what happened to Boracay, to also happen in Guimaras Island, that is why we are implementing programs now to pre-empt the problem” She also appreciated Central Philippine University-Haribon for the support and privilege that they are doing for the environment in GSFA and Guimaras.
Dr. Romallosa and Dr. Luceño took turns in giving presentations during the workshop. Afterwards the students wrote on some colored papers- their resolutions that would help conserve natural resources and sustain the environment. The advocacies were posted on the wire fence of the school.
The Biodiversity program of Central Philippine University CESLC and the Good Shepherds Fold Academy Alumni Association provided a lot of insights and environmental awareness to the students, faculty and staff and also elicited their commitments to change.