Environment secretary Roy Cimatu urged the youth to practice proper waste segregation to save the environment from degradation.
“Bilang mga kabataan, siguraduhin nating huwag tayong magkalat sa kung saan-saan. Clean as you go,” said Cimatu during the Mindanao launch of “Tayo ang Kalikasan” program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Kapag may mga kaibigan kayo na nakitang nagkakalat, sabihan ninyo sila na maging responsable sa pagtatapon ng basura,” he added.
Speaking near the Sarangani Bay in General Santos City, Cimatu stressed that every citizen can help in protecting the environment in his or her “humble means.”
“We can prevent more plastic from reaching the seas and mountains by segregating our waste properly, reducing usage of plastic, relying on reusable containers, and practicing recycling,” he added.
Tayo ang Kalikasan program is a DENR-led citizen movement for environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
It aims to document the best practices of individuals, communities, local governments, and organizations on responsible land use, environmental protection, solid waste management, and ecotourism, among others.
Cimatu said environmental protection is the duty of every Filipino, being a steward of the country’s natural resources.
During the program, the DENR chief said, “This is our Sarangani Bay, our Mount Apo, our Siargao. These are our farmlands, forests, cities, communities, rivers, lakes, and seas. This is our Mindanao, our land of promise.
“No one else but us will care for our natural resources. We should take the lead in protecting and using our natural resources responsibly. Tayo ang kumilos para protektahan ito.”
Cimatu also recognized the efforts of DENR Region 12 in managing the natural resources of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape.
“It is good that the beaches here in Sarangani are still in good condition. I hope you will not let environmental degradation set in, like what happened in Boracay,” he said. (With a report from DENR/PN)
