By Gladys Pino/PNA

IMUS CITY, Cavite — The city government has launched the implementation of the greening concept including public schools here to promote environmental protection.
The legacy project of Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi takes an integrated approach in promoting sustainable development through installation of solar panels, rainwater harvesters, sewage treatment plant, and providing e-vehicles for all public schools.
“Gusto nating ipakita dito hindi lang sa paaralan, kungdi sa buong lungsod na ang inyong mga opisyal ay me pagpapahalaga sa kalikasan,” (what we want to show here, not just in schools but in the whole city, that your officials put value on environment),” Maliksi said as he led the launching ceremony at the main campus of Imus City National High School on Monday.
Maliksi said the project will help promote renewable sources of energy, improve water quality, as well as water and energy conservation.
“May this serve as an inspiration for other institutions to be in the forefront of helping our environment,” he said.
The mayor now leaves it to the Department of Education (DepEd) to institutionalize the project that will enable the schools to produce their “very own eco-friendly culture” and ensure the creation of eco-friendly leaders for the next generation.
Maliksi and Vice Mayor Arnel Cantimbuhan and DepEd Imus City officer-in-charge (OIC), Superintendent Dr. Hermogenes Panganiban, signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the project.
Noemi Paranada, OIC Regional Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), commended the city’s efforts in serving as the agency’s partner in promoting plans and programs for the environment.
“As the city continues to grow, it is not only moving forward in terms of productivity and competitiveness, but also cleaner, liveable and sustainable,” she said.
After Monday’s launch, information dissemination would make the public become more aware of the project before they convene all stakeholders to plan, implement, and monitor programs for the greening of institutions.
The greening project has an appropriate incentive scheme for its sustainability.
