By Bong Pedalino

Maasin City (February 16) -- The District Office of Cong. Roger Mercado here has coordinated with the City Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) to undertake a division-wide information campaign on the importance of protecting the environment, its preservation and development.

This was learned from one of the resource persons of the three-week long tour of twelve public national high schools in the city, which started last January 27 and ended just last week, February 12.

Among the dozen national high schools in the city where the campaign was held were at Nonok National High School (NHS) at barangay Nonok, Baugo NHS, San Rafael, Tigbawan, Dongon, Libhu, Malapoc Sur, Guadalupe, Manhilo, Maasin National High School, Maasin Vocational High School, and Ibarra NHS.

The activity was made possible following a letter from the Congressman's office addressed to Fiel Almendra, the OIC City Schools Division Superintendent which was subsequently disseminated to the concerned school heads, it was learned.

The letter from the Congressman's District Office was signed by Manuel Boldo, the Consultant and Coordinator of the lawmaker's flagship projects in the province. Boldo once served as the municipal Mayor of Macrohon town.

Lectures in line with the solon's "Restore Green Movement: One Man One Tree Can Make a Forest" were shared and duly discussed with the students for them to feel they are involved as prime stakeholders at their young age in the never-ending advocacy of Cong. Mercado, according to the source.

He said the roving team also gave inputs on how to plant trees, both fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing ones, including proper care and importance on having so many trees.

They also campaigned to have backyard gardening and livestock raising in every student's home to save expenses on food besides being nutritious and handy right within one's home.

The students were also oriented on the Congressman's main thrusts on TEA – tourism development, environment, and agriculture.