The initiative, which was stopped after the 2013 super typhoon,
has resumed this academic school year with classes held every weekend.
“At their young age, these children need to know to protect and
take care of the environment. We also expect them to share this knowledge to
their family members,” Raoul Bacalla, head of Palompon municipal environment
and natural resources office, said in an interview Saturday.
Launched in 2010, the program was revived after the rehabilitation
of Tabuk Marine Sanctuary, one of the sites used as venue of this education
drive.
The Tabuk Marine Park and Bird Sanctuary is a 72-hectare island
with mangroves. It was declared as a marine park and fish and bird sanctuary in
1996.
The marine park is also a haven for giant fruit bats, giant golden-crowned
flying fox -- a rare fruit bat considered as the largest known bat in the
world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of
extinction due to poachers and food hunters.
These classes also teach children on disaster risk reduction and
management (DRRM), focusing on imparting survival skills.
The DRRM lesson for secondary learners has 21 modules that include
fear management, stress management, day and night rescue, crisis management. It
ends with a rescue Olympics every summer while lesson for elementary pupils has
eight modules concentrated on conditioning, solid waste, appreciation of
folklore, appreciation of watershed through hiking, and safety and first aid.
“We are now having a shortage of lecturers because of the population
of students has increased,” Bacalla added.
To address the issue, the local government will tie up with the
local youth council and the Palompon Tour Guides Association, whom they will
train to become lecturers. (RTA/PNA)
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