by Prof. Sarex Dalida Dipol, Jr.

CPU- CAS participants in the coastal clean up drive in Villa, Arevalo.

The College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Life Sciences of the Central Philippine University is committed to addressing various environmental issues related to nutrition and food security, biodiversity conservation and environmental rehabilitation. Since then, various environmental rehabilitation activities have been orchestrated by the department, such as fruit-tree-growing activities, environmental stewardship literacies, mangrove tree-growing activities and among others.

Last, March 15, 2023 (Wednesday) the two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Medical Laboratory Sciences jointly conducted a coastal activity in Villa, Arevalo, Iloilo City. This activity aimed to increase the awareness of the students on various environmental issues faced by the coastal communities. Poor waste management, extreme poverty, overpopulation and illegal human settlements are prevalent in the selected coastal community.

“Microplastics’’ is among the major environmental concerns that is rampant in the community. Water, table salts and even seafoods are contaminated with microplastics. Worst, it can even contaminate human blood.

The outreach coordinator of the Department of Life Sciences of the University and one of the officers of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) discussed the mangrove area to be adopted by the department. The chosen mangrove site will be beneficial to students and faculty of the department in areas of instruction, research and extension in the near future.