Schools told to partner with city in environment projects

City officials recently encouraged all higher education institutions in the city that are implementing the National Service Training Program–Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTs) to partner with the city government through the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) in the conduct of their environment-related programs and activities.

Under Resolution No. 123, series of 2023, local legislators stated that possible and feasible areas for environment-related activities may be available in different city-owned lands and public areas in the city in proper coordination with appropriate offices or agencies such as the CEPMO.

During the Senior Citizens for A Day (SCOFAD) session held on October 17, 2022, the SCOFAD Council adopted the proposal of SCOFAD Councilor Thelma S. Kim that earnestly encouraged all higher education institutions in the city that are implementing the NSTP-CWST to partner with the local government through the CEPMO in the conduct of their environmental protection-related programs and activities.

Pursuant to the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people, Article 2, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required under conditions provided by law to render personal, military or civil service.

Republic Act 9163, otherwise known as the National Service Training Program Act of 2001, aims to recognize the youth’s vital role in nation-building through the promotion of civic consciousness and development of their physical, moral, spiritual and social wellbeing.

The council stipulated that some colleges and schools in the city had been religiously implementing their NSTP program as part of their curriculum, especially the civic welfare training service which refers to the program component or activities contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of life for the members of the community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially those devoted to improve health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and moral of the citizenry and other social welfare services.

In the said implementation, NSTP students are tasked to conduct their civic services to identified areas such as parks and other areas of concern. However, such activities are not well sustained because the higher education institutions do not have an established area to conduct or implement such programs. – Dexter A. See