TRAINING OF TRAINERS. Marine researcher Fra-and Quimpo of XU's McKeough Marine Center gives a lecture to science teachers and ninth graders from twelve national high schools situated along the Macajalar Bay, as part of the Marine Expo 2016.

Report by Nadine Arabelle L Vivares and Kristine A Galarrita
All photos by Janell Sihay

Conservation advocates from the JCI Macajalar 24K, Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA), and Xavier University's McKeough Marine Center (MMC) joined forces to conduct a series of environmental education campaign activities dedicated to the youth in line with the Marine Expo 2016.

For the first phase of the Marine Expo, a training of trainers (TOT) was conducted from June 9 to 10 at the Word of Life Seaside Bible Camp.

The TOT was attended by science teachers and ninth graders from 12 national high schools, namely, from Laguindingan, Alubijid, Opol, Cagayan de Oro City, Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Balingasag, Binuangan, Sugbongcogon, and Kinoguitan.

Select faculty members of the XU Biology department and MMC staff, experts in their respective fields, served as the trainers.

The said event formed part of the Environment Month celebration, focusing on the marine environment and was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the coasts and its resources, especially in the Macajalar Bay, a major fishing ground and economic terminal in Misamis Oriental.

SUSTAINABLE USE. MBDA's Kristine Galarrita discusses the basic principles of coastal resource management during the training of trainers.

The trainees were taught basic marine ecology subjects using the eight modules developed and adopted from the IEC Student Development Advocates (ISDA) Manual by Dr Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit and Camillia Jane Bollozo produced in 2015.

Modules did not only include lectures but also fun games and competitions to help participants understand concepts better in an enjoyable and interactive way. The manual is also used by MMC to teach NSTP students for the ISDA Program at Xavier, which was awarded the 2nd Best Paper Award by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development System.

Following the culmination of the camp, the trainers were expected to ripple their knowledge and insights on the significance of marine environment and conservation to their respective schools as part of the second phase of the Marine Expo 2016, from June 13 to 24.

Each school was provided with a copy of the ISDA Manual and a course flipchart to serve as information guides for their advocacies.

The culminating event of the Marine Expo 2016 is slated on June 27-28 at SM Cagayan de Oro, composed of a series of environment-related educational activities, including a public photo and info exhibit, a series of film showings (free admission), and a trivia game. ∎

FUN WAYS TO LEARN. Students participate in interactive games and activities after every module to supplement the lectures.