Youth taking part in societal issues is greatly important and we, in Good Neighbors, ensure their participation in taking action. Some of our youth in our communities shared their thoughts on how everyone should take part in protecting our environment.
Angelo M. Santos, Pugad Tibaguin CDP in Bulacan
When I became part of Lingkod Katabaan on the Island of Tibaguin in Hagonoy, Bulacan, I started to have strong support in all projects and advocacies involving the environment.
Our island barangay is planted with mangroves (bakawan) and where Aroma Beach is also situated has been one of the reasons I wanted to protect and love our mother nature.
As a youth leader in our island community, I always mention and tell ways with my friends and community people how we should take care of our environment and why is it important that we should act now. I also used social media platforms to share my thoughts on environmental protection.
Each one of us must take action to keep and restore the beauty and order of our environment, especially in our community where we get our livelihood through fishing. It is also not hidden from our knowledge that the abuse we are doing on our environment will be extremely dangerous for us through different calamities that can be prevented if we can sustain and care for the environment.
To my beloved community members, and all, I call for everyone’s participation to take care and love our Mother Earth not only through words but through our actions with true compassion and love, and I am certain that the environment with God’s permission that what we have done well for the environment will have a good return.
Althea Romano & Kaye Adreinne Evangelista, Tingloy CDP in Batangas
Many ways drive us to take care of the environment and if we do not protect it we will be the ones to be affected by the abuse we are doing. Moreover, the important livelihoods depend on this every day.
Some of the ways we do for the environment are clean-up drives, proper disposal of waste, discipline on taking care of the environment and removing the crown of thorns in the ocean, affecting coral reefs. We are also part of Tingloy Eco Youth Savers in our community.
Our message to our fellow youth and community members is to participate and unite with environmental activities because this is also for our sake. We hope that all the youth will always willingly participate in this cause because this is very important in our lives, especially nowadays.
John Emmanuel Tayo, Gigmoto CDP in Catanduanes
Nowadays, global temperature incessant rise, ocean and terrestrial environment destructions touching human’s living and security demands for youth’s active engagement in climate action together with the government and the entire community, this aims to guarantee that the vulnerable sector especially children and elderly are not put in jeopardy and assure that they enjoy their rights. Numerous scientists had finally identified the year 2030 as a final point that climate change impact as “irreversible, irrecoverable and irretrievable”. This is a wake-up call for more comprehensive actions addressing the impact and meeting the deadline non-abstraction consequently destroy millions of lives.
Likewise, the Province of Catanduanes and even the entire Philippines are often typhoons’ home since then. It is located in the frontline of the worst climate change effect, ergo, climate actions ought to be in prior government development and investment plans.
Thus, close participation with national environmental groups is one of my ways to address the issue as the group gathers even virtually due to the pandemic. Youth education and engagement in climate action is what I am doing virtually together with other support groups for awareness and consciousness on the current situation of the environment and climate. As a community youth leader, I am challenged by the local government’s response to assist in delivering the possible service that I could render locally through their consultation until the implementation for their commitment and support.
The clock is ticking towards the end of meeting the deadline of climate change irreversibility, every community member, government, children, and youth shall act forthwith if we still want to live longer in this world. Let us start protecting the different environments -terrestrial and ocean and revitalize the bounteous biodiversity where people especially children can enjoy their rights and the harmonious environment.
Janna Trisha I. Robles, Kilagding Longanapan CDP in Davao de Oro
My parents are both farmers, I learned vegetable gardening at a young age and they thought I love being a gardener. My Family taught me to keep our house and backyard clean and orderly along with proper waste disposal.
This was strengthened through Good Neighbors’ inspiring activities relative to caring for the environment – yearly tree planting activity, orientation on proper waste disposal and segregation, clean-up drive, and advocacy on saving the mother earth. I have known the importance of a tree and how it can save lives in a time of disaster and the reduced incidence of flooding and landslides.
As an active member of the youth organization, they were able to join me in capacity building on urban gardening that motivates me to take responsibility in our youth-run community garden. I am also vocal in the community that if they cut trees to be used for building houses they must replace them by planting a new tree. I strongly believed that through this I take a great part in protecting the environment.
Young people and families play a vital role and must be involved in caring for and protecting the environment. It must be started within ourselves. If all families at homes took part, there will be no flooding or landslides in the community.
The devastating experience of strong flooding and series of landslides brought by typhoon Pablo year 2012 was a wake-up call for the people of Laak, experiencing a very, and I do not want it to happen again. It is very fresh from my memory and I can still remember all and I prayed that it will not come again.
My message to my neighbors, children fellow youth that we must be involved in caring for our environment by disciplining ourselves through disposing of our garbage properly, involved in gardening when you cut a tree you must plant a new tree, clean our surroundings, and love our environment as we love ourselves and families.
