Starting ‘Em Young. Using a net, these two children try to catch some fish and clean up some debris at the Malagos dam during the youth camp. Apart from having fun, they were taught how to help protect the cityâ€
DAVAO CITY — Theyâ€
Meet Davao Cityâ€
They are select students from different schools in the city. They are members of the Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC), a group founded six years ago that aims to protect the cityâ€
Early this month, they participated in commemorating Earth Month through a youth camp, which was organized by the group and sponsored by the Davao City Water District. The theme was “A Call for Action on Climate Change.â€
One of the activities was an orientation for the youth on how to protect the watershed, which is suffering from abuse by human and industrial activities.
Gone Camping. The participants had a good time communing with nature. (davaotoday.com photo by Alberto P. Egot Jr.)
At the Malagos Park, the WMYC conducted an environment forum with the theme, “Think… Crave for Change… Act Smarter… Be Different.†During the forum, members expressd their ideas and contributions to the problems affecting the watershed and climate change in general.“I learned so much and became more mature because I participated in this important mission,†said Jeremiah Caballero, a WMYC member.
“Wherever I go, I try to impart to my fellow youths the importance of the watershed,†said Shenna Maranguit, 20, a WMYC facilitator.
The youth environmentalists also tackled the issue of banana plantations and their aerial spraying of pesticides near the Lipada
Watershed. Residents and other environmentalists have likewise complained about these sprayings. The WMYC says it is committed to fight aerial spraying and determined to work for changes at the environment department.
“Davaoâ€
Bonding for the Watershed. Participants to the youth camp in one of their activities. (davaotoday.com photo by Alberto P. Egot Jr.)
As part of te WMYCâ€
The WMYC has earned recognitions for its advocacy. Last year, they were chosen as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in the country, an award given by the National Youth Commission, for its campaign titled “Youth Working Towards Saving Davao Drinking Water, the Source of Life.â€
The campaign, according to a statement from the Davao City Water District, “summarizes the youthâ€
The campaign successfully lobbied for the declaration by the City Councol of theTamugan-Panigan and other watershed areas as “Environmentally Critical Areas.â€
Dream On. A participant enjoys some solitude near the turbine of the old dam in Malagos. (davaotoday.com photo by Alberto P. Egot Jr.)
It also led to a “terrain analysis†by the City Planning Development Office which in turn helped the authorities plan a more effective strategy to save the watershed.In 2004, the WMYC also received the TAYO award for its campaign, “Saving Davao Cityâ€
At their early age, the WMYC environmentalists are very much aware of the big issues concerning the environment. “I would like to encourage all the youths out there to please join us,†said Patrick Pag-ong, WMYCâ€
For WMYC member Daniel Arpafo, the groupâ€
I AM A NATURE LOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE HELPING OUR MOTHER EARTH!!!!!!!!
ang pangit !! wlang kwenta !
ang pangit