Before stepping onto the stage to receive their diplomas, graduating senior high school and college students in Mandaue City may soon need to plant at least two trees each under a new city government environmental initiative.
The Mandaue City Council approved on first reading an ordinance requiring all graduating students, from both public and private schools, to plant trees as part of their civic duty to protect the environment and reduce disaster risks.
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) President and ex-officio Councilor Fleuritz Gayle Jumao-as, who authored the ordinance, said the initiative aims to address flooding and deforestation in the city.
“Isa ni sa mga requirements before sila makagraduate,” Jumao-as said in a December 1 interview, adding that officials hope to implement the policy as soon as possible.
“Bisan ginagmay ra atong mabuhat as citizens, makatabang gihapon ta sa community. Kaning mga micro efforts mahimong macro effects kung magtinabangay ta,” she added.
Some schools and colleges already require students to plant up to 10 trees before graduation. Mandaue City’s ordinance sets the requirement at two trees to make compliance feasible.
Councilor Jennifer del Mar, co-author of the ordinance, emphasized the importance of teaching environmental stewardship to youth amid worsening climate impacts.
She said the city will oversee implementation and determine the appropriate species for each planting site.
“Might be too late for us to say but the best time is now. So we drafted this ordinance for this purpose,” Del Mar said, stressing that young people must understand why trees matter.
“Kita tanan naa man tay responsibility towards mother nature, this is one of the things nga kinahanglan natong i-implement sa Mandaue City,” she added.
Planting Guidelines and Implementation
The ordinance directs the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and schools, to identify suitable planting sites, including school campuses, public parks, riverbanks, reforested areas, and other approved public lands.
Guidelines will specify which tree species students may plant, prioritizing indigenous varieties suited to local conditions.
CENRO and schools will provide technical guidance on planting, maintenance, and post-planting care.
Multiple agencies, including DepEd–Mandaue City Division, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), CENRO, DA, DENR, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), will oversee seedling preparation, site identification, technical support, and monitoring of the planted trees.
The city will maintain a registry to track the trees, and annual reports will be submitted to the City Council.
Non-compliance will not affect academic standing but will involve counseling and rescheduling of planting activities.
Students Welcome the Initiative
For students like Alekka Marababol, a Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences learner at Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School, the initiative is a positive move.
“Mura nalang sad siya og memory nga nakatanom mi og trees before mi mugraduate,” she said, noting that their school already engages students in tree planting and provides funds for pots and materials.
The ordinance reflects the city’s broader effort to instill environmental responsibility in youth while promoting greener spaces amid rapid urbanization. (VCL)
