Text by Samantha Isabelle H Bagayas, Brian Adam Anay and Van Damme Artadi | Photos by Jerome Lascuña Torres

The National Service Training Program (NSTP) students of Xavier University took part in the) Cagayan de Oro-wide cleanup drive on February 8, frontlined by the NSTP Educators Association in Region 10 (NEAR 10.

NSTP students from Cagayan de Oro College (COC), Capitol University, Golden Heritage Polytechnic College (GHPC), Liceo de Cagayan University (LdeCU), Oro Bible College, Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Pilgrim Christian College (PCC), STI College, Lourdes College, Southern Philippine College, AMA and Vineyard College also participated in the cleanup drive.

The event centered on the students’ contribution to making CDO cleaner and more livable, and encouraging the youth to become responsible citizens for the preservation and protection of the environment.

The participating schools were scattered throughout the streets of Gearlan, Hayes, Chaves, RN Abejuela, Neri, Cruz Taal, Gomez, and Pacana to sweep the streets, remove posters and bills from posts, and removing vandals, among others.

Due to the huge number of attendants, CDO police officers and Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets of XU under the Philippine Air Force also formed part of the said activity to ensure the security of the participants.

“The NSTP of XU has emphasized that our area work or community service is our contribution to building peace in Mindanao,” shared XU-NSTP director Dennise Gonzales.

Gonzales added that the cleanup drive is an effort to make a difference for CDO. “Even [if] it’s just a simple activity, the message it relays and the actions the students showed have caused an impact [to our community].”