DEPED ORDER NO. 5 S.

2014

Implementing Guidelines on the Integration of Gulayan sa Paaralan, Solid Waste

Management and Tree Planting Under the National Greening Program (NGP)

I. INRODUCTION

A clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our

responsibility towards others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not

healthier, than when we found it. Dalai Lama

The younger generations inherit the world as we have the responsibility to take care of

this planet. The Earth comes as the most important shelter for us and incoming

generations in the future. I am glad to emphasize that selfish is not our general attitude.

The universal should learn by heart that we will not stay longer in this world and it will be

inherit to a new generations as the heir of conditioning. It means that we have only one

wonderful world and we share it together for years. We should think for some strategies

to ensure the nature is in a good condition. For example, we should plant more green

plants to give us more oxygen. I always accept as true this idiom, where there is a will,

there is way because a burden of one has own choice is not felt. Honestly, I appeal for

something make aware of our environment in the future. It should start with the children.

As early as their age, they should be taught at schools how to value the environment.

This has become one of the programs of DepEd - The Integration of Gulayan sa

Paaralan, Solid Waste Management and Tree Planting Under the National Greening

Program (NGP) which has 5 major goals, namely, Poverty Reduction, Food Security,

Biodiversity Conservation, and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption. Hopefully,

through this, children be more aware in conserving our environment.

Every organization should invest in our environment. We live in a time when the

environment is in danger, so it is important to protect it. We need a healthy environment

in order to survive, so we must protect it. We need to protect the environment now to

help prevent health problems, to maintain the ecosystem, and to preserve the Earth for

our children. Thats why the main objectives of DepEds Implementing Guidelines on the

Integration of Gulayan sa Paaralan, Solid Waste Management and Tree Planting Under

the National Greening Program (NGP) are as follows: (a) establish vegetable gardens to

serve as food basket and ready source of vegetables to sustain supplementary feeding

program; (b) establish nurseries/seed banks to sustain seed requirement for different

planting cycles as well as fruit bearing and forest tree saplings for the tree-planting

activity; (c) enhance the development of values among the learners by integrating

curricula concepts in planting and eating vegetables, waste management and

environmental protection, and land conservation, among others; (d) coordinate with

other agencies, NGOs, and private institutions relative to the program. This program is

under the governments National Greening Program (NGP) which specifically seeks to

plant 1.5 billion seedlings in 1.5 million hectares of public lands nationwide in six years,

from 2011 to 2016more than twice the governments accomplishment for the past 25

years. All government agencies and institutions, including local government units, will

provide full support to the program, not only in terms of tree planting, but also in the

production of quality seedlings, mobilization of all government employees, including

students from Grade 5 to college level, to plant at least 10 seedlings each, annually. The

private sector is encouraged to participate in the program as well.

Nowadays, the younger generations are the heirs of the modern technology

addiction which seems to be doing more harm than good to themselves and the

environment. Too much development has led to pollution and destruction of the nature.

As a result, the temperature of the Earths surface rises. This effect is called the

greenhouse effect. The increase in temperature will result in changes in climate. For

example, certain places may experience droughts. The rate of photosynthesis may

decrease. The amounts of agricultural food products will drop. This shows that our

community has no respect for nature. In order to keep our environment clean, we must

maintain and protect our environment reduce those problems. We should realize that

keeping the air clean is our duty. Therefore, we should practice good habits that help to

keep the air clean. It is very good to teach our young generation to love and appreciate

the nature. Otherwise, we should take part in any environment campaigns which lead us

to be kind to the Earth. It is important to keep the environment clean so that all living

things continue to live in comfort and safety. As we saw in the past, there are many

more rules, laws, conventions are made for protecting the environment but there is no

effective implementation. For this implementation youth play a vital role. Young people

constitute a large part of the worlds population and young people will have to live longer

with the consequences of current environmental decisions than will their elders. Future

generations will also be affected by these decisions and the extent to which they have

addressed concerns such as the depletion of resources, biodiversity loss, and long-lived

radioactive wastes. Young people can play an active role in protecting and improving

the environment. It should start with them by teaching them at schools.

Youth are back bone of the nation. They can change the future of the society with

their well-being and courageous behavior. Unfortunately today we find the youth those

who are more interested in other places which are not useful to them as well as

nationally. They can change their lifestyle and how it affects the environment. They can

make their homes, schools and youth organizations more environmentally friendly by

adopting environmentally friendly practices, recycling of different materials as well as

preserving resources such as water and electricity. Engaging youth in environmental

protection not only creates direct impact on changing youth behaviors and attitudes, but

possibly influence their parents, relatives and families. They need to learn to be

productive and compassionate members of society. They need to learn how to care for

themselves as they care for others. More and more young men of this age group are

sitting at home in front of their televisions playing games all day instead of bettering

themselves or going to work. They have no vision and if they do have dreams they do

not have the drive to make any attempt at achieving them. The environment is simply

defined as our surrounding, including both living and non-living things and youth are the

young people. Environmental protection is a broad subject Environmental problems are

rising day by day and everyone is concerned about global warming and climate change

as globally but local and national environmental problems are less concerned.

Protecting the environment starts with pollution control therefore, youth can help reduce

waste by paying attention to minor details in their daily lives, for example, not to take

extra plastic bags when we go shopping or teach them how to recycle and conserve

energy by incorporating small practices into daily habits.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) was initially conceptualized to

complement the Gulayan sa Masa of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the

Anti-Hunger Mitigation Initiatives in line with their campaign Programang Agrikultura

Para sa Masa to public elementary and secondary schools. The primary aim is to

promote food production that are rich in protein, carbohydrates and vitamin A and iron

as a major input in the school feeding. In addition, the Department of Education issued

a Memorandum No. 293, s. 2007 or the Gulayan sa Paaralan and the primary goals are:

(a) to raise the level of public consciousness on the health and nutritional dimension as

well as economic benefits of establishing school, households and community gardens,

(b) establish school gardens to serve as the food basket/main source of commodities to

sustain supplementary feeding, (c) intensify production of selected varieties of fruits

and vegetables, showcase small scale food production models in schools, and (d)

inculcate among studentry the values of good health and nutrition, industry, love of labor

and caring for others.

When the school year began last June 2016, a social media post showing a

picture of a young school boy eating his lunch baon in a classroom gained much

attention and sympathy from the netizens because of the story behind it. A typical

school packed lunch, as depicted on tv commercials, would have rice, fried chicken or

hotdogs in it, but this boy had only asin and a little oil to flavor his rice as his lunch

baon. It was touching for many because despite his difficulty of walking 2 kilometers to

reach school and a poor diet, he is still striving in school. But will his perseverance

sustain him in school with improper diet?

by the DepEd. Having asin at mantika as a regular ulam does not supply enough

nourishment to grade-school kids like the boy in social media. Studies have always

demonstrated that nutrition affects thinking skills, behavior and health, and all are

factors that influence academic performance.

The Department of education has already collaborated with the Department of

Agriculture and Department of Health to answer for malnutrition and encourage

vegetable gardening in schools. DepEd Memorandum No.191 series of 2013 stipulates

that Gulayan sa Paaralan should be implemented in all public schools especially those

with high prevalence of malnutrition, high poverty incidence, low academic performance

and other related factors. Another initiative is the DO No.37 series of 2014 commonly

known as School-based Feeding Program of SY 2014-2015. It aimed to address

undernutrition and short-term hunger among public school children. These are but few

of the numerous efforts to solve malnutrition and short-term hunger in school children.

Success however cannot be measured by the number of memorandum or orders

passed for project implementation. The bigger challenge lies on how effective and

sustainable are these projects in terms of addressing the real issue.

A very good determinant of willingness to implement a project is on how much

value you put on that particular subject matter. Primary and secondary schools should

learn or appreciate the value of sustaining vegetable gardens not only limited to feeding

and nutrition purposes but also because gardening skills among children preserves

local and scientific knowledge especially on organic farming that is helpful for the

environment. More importantly, as pupils work in team to create gardens, they develop
or instill core values that are now diminishing because of the presence of some

technologies. These values are honesty, perseverance, hardwork and team work. These

are the reflections from one successful Gulayan sa Paaralan in Camarines Sur.

Moreover, the importance and value of gardening has heightened due to

increasing pressure for strengthening local food systems through smallholder farmers

and schools especially in developing countries and vulnerable countries to climate

change impacts, like the Philippines. According to the World Food Program, food

security is going to be extra challenging in the near future. So the perfect time to do

vegetable garden is now.

So while we produce food and promote good nutrition with school vegetable

gardening, the future of our children is also being secured with knowledge and skills

they gain for their empowerment and for future resiliency. Thus, school gardening hits at

least 3 birds with one stone. This is why school gardens make the best harvest, and that

is total child development. There is no excuse that this should not be included or

integrated in primary schools curriculum. With this in practice in the entire DepEd,

theres no doubt to see or read future social media blogs of how free lunch that is

derived from school vegetable gardens helped a young poor boy finish school

successfully. Then we have proved once again that poverty is really not a hindrance to

success.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

Teaching them principles of conservation as well as good problem-solving

methods may ensure the future of the planet. Children need something meaningful to

invest their creative energies in. They often are able to find solutions to real life

problems that adult thinkers have missed. Exploring ways to help the environment,

conserve natural resources and energy, and make the Earth a safer place to live may

bring about workable solutions.

Little ones have a natural affinity for nature. Encouraging young children to be

thoughtful of how we use natural resources will instill green thinking.

We dont always have a choice about what products we consume, but often we do. For

many things we need on a daily basis, there is an alternative. Living green means

looking for, finding and using products that is less harmful to the environment to

Main points to address:

Choose Earth-friendly products if there is a choice.

Save paper or plastic plates for rare occasions.

Plan a family garden and make it organic. Plant some trees!

Older children also love to be part of a cause. Get them involved in your efforts to live

greener. Plant a garden to share with a soup kitchen or shelter. Becoming a green

family means making a few changes in lifestyle and buying habits. Our children will

inherit the Earth and the challenge of healing the damage previous generations have

caused. Your concern for the planet will influence their thinking and encourage them to

look for solutions to difficult problems. Thought precedes action and action is

empowering. Empower your children by becoming part of the solution.

http://www.deped.gov.ph/memos/dm-89-s-2015

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