BBNHS is T4 World’s Best School in Environmental Action
CLINCHES $50,000 TOP PRIZE
THE Bonuan Boquig National High School in Dagupan City won the top spot in the T4 World’s Best School Prizes under the Environmental Action Category.
The announcement was made during a press conference in London, United Kingdom, simulcast on YouTube on Wednesday afternoon, October 19.
The BBNHS team, dubbed Team Bakawan, was at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome, accompanied by Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, Vice Mayor BK Kua, and Dr. Maria Linda Ventenilla as project lead.
The BBNHS won over the International School of Zug & Luzern in Switzerland, and the Green School of Bali in Indonesia for the USD50,000 grand prize, equivalent to more than P2.5 million.
Categories in the competition were Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives.
Renato Santillan, BBNHS school principal, said the project did not only involve planting and maintaining mangroves, but also by organizing coastal clean-ups.
After the devastation caused by Pepeng back in 2009, Dagupeños were forced to dredge rivers that resulted in the death of mangroves.
The school’s Ilog Ko, Aroen Ko Adopt-a-River Project, was initially a Science project by Willy Guieb, a former BBNHS faculty member, back in 2010.
In the school’s partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the BBNHS learned more about mangrove planting, and eventually spearheaded an initiative.
As of writing, 50,000 mangroves have been planted by the BBNHS in the Bonuan area.
“We will have more competitions like this for schools [in the city]”, said Mayor Fernandez in a press conference and assured 100 percent support for the program since it is related to the city’s flood mitigation program.
The T4 Education founded the World’s Best School Prizes to share the best practices of schools around the world – changing communities for the better, and transforming the lives of students. (Ahikam Pasion)
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