City of San Fernando, La Union –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Regional Office I (DENR-1) through the Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG) conducted an environmental awareness through a series of lectures involving the Senior Citizens (SCs) which was held at the Municipal Conference Hall, Aringay, La Union on August 16, 2023.

Thirty (30) senior citizens from various barangays of the Municipality of Aringay actively participated in the series of environmental lectures conducted by the information workforce of DENR- I Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group (RSCIG).  Mrs. Gloria Orpia, President of Federation of the Senior Citizens of Aringay, welcomed the lecturers and participants. In support to the said activity, Aringay Municipal Mayor Benjamin O. Sibuma also delivered his inspirational message, saying, “Senior citizens play a very significant role in our community through their conviction and determination as leaders who guide the family in the right direction, as well as share their inspiration with their knowledge either negative or positive experience that will change the perception of life.”

The aim of the activity is to keep the senior citizens abreast to the existing environmental policies and laws as well as to heighten their awareness on the current DENR programs and projects. The series of lectures relative to environment include an overview of Republic Act (RA) 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which was presented by Communications Development Officer II, Mariel S. Aquino who emphasized that under RA 9003, local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for the effective and efficient implementation of the solid waste management, specifically on garbage segregation and disposal with the cooperation of the household occupants.  RA 9174 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act was likewise, discussed by Communications Development Officer I, Ms. Denise Marie C. Lorenzo who encouraged the participants to report some cases of wildlife (buhay-ilang) trading, trapping or poaching particularly the endangered species. Likewise, the  RA 9729 or the “Climate Change Act of 2009” was tackled by Information Officer II, Zenaida L. Paday-os, who informed the participants regarding the present state of todays’ climate change, .  She also informed some solutions about the country’s crucial environmental problems especially on plastic pollution of which Filipinos generate about 2.7 million tons of .plastic waste daily.  In response to the plastic pollution, Mrs. Erlinda Cacanindin, owner of St. Barachiel Special Science School proposed the establishment of an “Eco Center” where they can collect, gather recyclable materials and later display instead of selling them to the junk shops. In response, the DENR- I team expressed support to the proposed “Eco Center” initiative and urged the school officials to submit necessary requirements to the LGU- Aringay for possible funding and approval. In addition, the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of Aringay headed by Mrs. Prudencia C. Lorenzo also expressed gratitude to the DENR- I information team as the event bequeathed them to be very significant in the community and as one force multipliers in the protection, conservation, management, and development of the environment and natural resources. Even at their age, the senior citizens can share their immense knowledge, experience, and wisdom regarding the environment which serves the younger generation in shaping the right direction.

The environmental activity involving the senior citizens is one of the DENR strategies to strengthen environmental awareness to the various sectors of the civil society and empower them to be active in upholding the protection of the environment and natural resources. As DENR mandate and commitment to the public regarding environmental awareness information campaign, the RSCIG team disseminated 988 various IEC materials and also conducted information drive in selected barangays of Caba, La Union namely: Barangay Santiago Norte, Barangay San Carlos, Barangay Bautista, and Barangay Santiago Sur on August 18, 2023.

In order to continue the DENR’s aim to engage elderly people and other special sectors of the civil society in environmental endeavors, the team also coordinated with the OSCA office of Caba, La Union represented by Mr. Delfin Deleña in regards to the schedule of another upcoming environmental lecture.  (ZLP/RSCIG)