THE DEPARTMENT of Education called on students and personnel to help protect the environment.

“I call for the youth and everyone to be good role models, to take care of our Earth, and be the bearers of change for a better world. we cannot tell what the future holds but every day, let us invest in our planet by being actively involved in environmental activities and endeavors,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

“We cannot underestimate the efforts of the youth because even in their own ways, they take active steps to protect the environment. For example, Generation Z or better known as Gen Z supports movements like purchasing cruelty-free products, zero-waste management,and the like. If they can do it, so can we with our learners,” she added.

The Office of Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns and the Youth Formation Division organized a virtual Earth Day event with the theme “Youth: Invest in our Planet.”

It tackled the importance of bayanihan to protect and conserve the environment for future generations as the goal moves from restoring the earth to investing in it in sustainable ways in the light of climate change and growing number of environmental issues worldwide.

During the panel discussion, youth representatives presented their green initiatives such as the establishment of a vegetable garden, adopting sustainable food consumption practices like backyard gardening, steaming vegetables, distribution of fruit-bearing tree seedlings, and environmental-friendly purchase.

Davao Del Sur School of Fisheries SSG Vice President Ramzel Ivan Hugh Delloro shared some tips for eco-friendly purchases such as shopping in eco-friendly stores, avoiding impulse buying, buying local products such as fruits and vegetables that are in season, reducing online deliveries, buying recycled items and using eco-shopping bags.

“Eco-friendly living can lead to cost savings from energy and water efficiency, less maintenance, enhanced air quality, a healthier lifestyle, increased property value, and positive impact chance in the community to help save the planet,” Delloro said.

Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns Juan Valeriano Respicio IV urged learners to rise and invest in planet Earth.

“Now is the time for us to act. To sacrifice and to invest. To the youth, I encourage you to be more conscious and proactive and to be supportive of our efforts to preserve the environment. Let us focus our attention on matters concerning climate change and be part of the solution to the ever-growing and ever-changing challenges concerning the environment,” Respicio said.