Text by Ma Isabela AC Agawin | Photos by Chelsea Dana Rapanot

As the world came together to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, the Xavier University community, led by select people from Global Pro Cooperative (GPC), XU Security Office (XUSO) and Physical Plant Office (PPO) danced their way to promote environmental awareness through a flashmob at XU Grade School by 9AM and at XU main campus by 12NN.

The flashmob performers brought slogans and placards to promote the protection and preservation for Mother Earth, another way to promote the Green Campus Agenda (GCA).

“As part of the Green Campus Agenda, this coming June, we plan to tap the Central Student Government (CSG) of grade school and classroom officers to segregate their trashes properly,” said Julieto C Obiel, XUGS physical plant supervisor on intensifying the efforts to practice reduce, recycle and reuse.

As a respond to the GCA, the XUGS administration began rehabilitating their field with the help of their pupils by planting new frog grass.

“We took the resources from the school to improve the whole campus. … We need to support the clean and green agenda of the university,” said Irene Requinton, XUGS assistant principal for administration.

The XUGS campus recently started having their composting unit using shredded dry leaves as stimulants.

“As custodians here at the university, we want to remind the community the importance of caring for the environment through maintaining a clean and green surroundings, and proper waste segregation,” Veronica Magpantay, XU GPC project manager at XU said in Bisaya.

Efforts are also made to encourage the XU college students to respond to the GCA. “We have to do our parts as individuals,” said Joel F Francisco, XU pollution control officer. “A simple segregation of their own waste is a big help for the program – not just the Green Campus Agenda but also for the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.”

The Green Campus Agenda is one way for the university to strengthen the rehabilitation and protection of the environment in the school premises. Waste segregation and recycling of materials are only few ways to support the GCA.

XU also practices vermicomposting with its units stationed beside the Museo de Oro building and in the Manresa Farm Complex.