PUBLIC schools are set to conduct simultaneous tree planting activities next month as DepEd’s “Christmas gift” to the nation, according to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Dubbed the “DepEd’s 236,000 Trees-A Christmas Gift for the Children,” the activity will be held on December 6.
“This is an initiative that aims to promote environmental preservation and instill environmental responsibility among Filipino children. The project will simultaneously plant over 236,000 trees in different parts of the country, with the participation of DepEd’s 47, 678 public schools,” Duterte said in her memorandum order.
“This project serves as a gift from the Department to ensure a clean and green environment for Filipino children and future generations,” Duterte added.
Each school should plant a minimum of five fruit-bearing trees, Philippine native species trees, or mangroves if the school is located in a coastal community, or if it chooses a coastal area as the venue for the tree planting activity.
Duterte said DepEd regional and division offices will coordinate with their counterparts in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to acquire seedlings for the activity.
In the same order, Duterte said “there should not be no more than 10 teachers and not more than 20 learners who will participate in the said activity.”
“Only a maximum number of 30 individuals should join the tree planting,” she added.
Aside from school grounds, she said other venues of the tree planting activity include barangay parks, local government unit parks, marine protected areas, or any other open space near the school.
“In this case, the school head shall coordinate with their barangay unit to determine an alternative area for the tree planting activity,” Duterte said, in case the space in the school is limited.
