FOR HAVING the best program for small schools, the Baay National High School in Abra received a special commendation from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization.

The award came with a $1,000 cash prize.

The school, led by Principal Hector Lopez and Coordinating Teacher Paul John Dawal, implemented Project CHANGE (Clean Habitable, Adaptable and Nurturing Greener Environment) which promotes environmental awareness among the students by inculcating the value of “pagka-makakalikasan.”

It also aims to solve environmental problems, particularly those arising from plastic wastes from the school and the communities where the learners reside.

According to Dawal, the prize will be used to buy plastic shredders to improve the efficiency of the project.

The competition was participated in by 181 schools in Southeast Asia.