The Iloilo Provincial Government and the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Iloilo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together in promoting tree growing and protecting the environment.
The partnership combines the Province's Tanum ILOILO for MoRProGRes (Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Competitive and Resilient Province of Iloilo) program and DepEd Iloilo's Eco Champions Program.
Governor Arthur R. Defensor Jr. signed the agreement for the Province of Iloilo, while Ruby Therese P. Almencion, PhD, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent, signed for DepEd Iloilo.
Under the agreement, the Provincial Government will provide technical support, training on how to grow and care for seedlings, and supply endemic and fruit-bearing seedlings from its nurseries. The Province will also continue updating the MoRProGRes Forest Map to track tree growing activities across Iloilo.
In return, DepEd Iloilo will carry out the Eco Champions Program in all public elementary, integrated, and secondary schools in the province. Schools will include tree planting in their major activities, set up school nurseries and gardens, and work with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (MENRO) to identify safe planting areas and receive seedlings.
DepEd will also make sure that learners joining tree planting activities are safe and that parents give their consent for activities held outside school.
The partnership aims to encourage more people, especially students, to care for the environment while helping increase tree cover, improve food security, and make Iloilo a greener and more resilient province.
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