More college students will be planting trees. This, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR (DENR-CAR) and 34 higher education learning institutions entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Higher Education-CAR (CHED-CAR) for the implementation of Project SAGIP.
Project SAGIP is a climate action initiative of CHED-CAR which focuses on tree planting and growing. It enjoins student beneficiaries in the financial assistance programs of the Commission to plant trees as their contribution to the environment.
The participants under the Project shall include but are not limited to the beneficiaries, scholars or grantees under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES); Tulong Dunong under the TES; Student Loan Program (SLP); CHED Merit-Based Scholarship Program (CMBSP); Scholarships for Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP); and other scholarship grants t be implemented and monitored by the CHED in the undergraduate and graduate level. Students benefiting from the Free Higher Education (FHE) in state universities and colleges, as well as scholars and grantees from other government and non-government projects or scholarships will also be enjoined to participate in the project.
Under Project SAGIP, the students shall be required to plant at least one fruit-bearing tree and or one indigenous tree in their locality per year. The activity shall then be a part of the reportorial requirements of the students for the renewal of their scholarship or grants.
The conduct of tree planting activities shall be coordinated with the concerned Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in their locality.
Apart from tree planting, the participating students shall maintain and monitor their planted trees to ensure survival.
On the part of the DENR-CAR, all PENROs and CENROs shall be mobilized to provide the needed technical assistance and logistics, especially seedlings appropriate in their respective localities, subject to their availability.
Apart from assistance in the conduct of tree planting activities, the DENR-CAR shall ensure provision of resource persons or subject-matter experts in the conduct of learning and development activities related to the project which include forestry, environmental sustainability, climate change, geosciences, among others.
To motivate higher education institutions to consistently and enthusiastically implement the project, CHED-CAR will carry out the SAGIP Innovation award which will recognize the HEIs, local government units, and students with distinctive innovative works in the implementation of the project.
HEIs which agreed and committed to participating in Project SAGIP include the University of the Cordilleras; University of Baguio; Saint Louis University; Saint Louis College Inc.; Saint Louis College of Bulanao; STI Education Services Group Inc. – Baguio; San Pablo Major Seminary; Philippine Nazarene College; Pines City Colleges; Philippine College of Ministry; Kings Colleges of the Philippines – Benguet; Keystone College Inc.; Kalinga State University; Kalinga Colleges of Science and Technology; International School of Asia and the Pacific – Kalinga; Ifugao State University; Easter College Inc.; Divine Word College of Bangued; Data Center College of the Philippines Baguio City; Data Center College of the Philippines Bangued; Cordillera A+ Computer Technology College; Baguio College of Technology; Benguet State University; Cordillera Career Development College; Casiciaco Reclectos Seminary; Abra State Institute of Science and Technology; Abra Valley Colleges; Mountain Province State Polytechnic College; Apayao State College; BVS Colleges Inc.; BSBT College; AMA Computer College – Baguio; and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College.
