Ulip students embrace Climate Change

Compostela Valley, March 12 (PIA) - - Around 200 students of the Ulip National High School participated yesterday in the Climate Change Forum – Campus Tour at the school’s social hall, Brgy. Upper Ulip, Monkayo.

The students from Grade 7 to 9 gained new inputs on Climate Change and Hydrometeorological Hazards from a group of environment advocates.

The forum highlighted topics on understanding the causes and effects of climate change as shown in a video presentation hosted by Nikki Gil and Dingdong Dantes, and impacts on weather changes lectured by Engr. Gerry Pedrico, senior meteorologist of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).

Engr. Pedrico said that students should be able to know what to do during natural disaster so that they may be able to prepare properly in order to prevent any casualties.

“As young as you are, you should know what to do and where to go to help your parents or guardians during disasters,” he said.

Meanwhile, Col. Gilbert Roy Ruiz of the 25th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army (PA) said in his speech that the decision to adapt to climate change is in everyone’s hands.

Col. Ruiz illustrated the story of a man, who is holding a bird on his hand and asked the students if the bird is alive or dead.

“The answer to whether the bird is alive or dead depends on your hands and it is the same in deciding whether you want to mitigate the effects of climate change or not,” he said.

The forum is conducted as a project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the Program Monitoring and Coordination Center – National Task Force Diwalwal (PMCC-NTFD). (PIA11, Michael Uy)