SAFETY FIRST & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

4th LECTURE, U.P. Diliman, April 26, 1998

by : Merci Guilas

It was a hot day, around 38 degrees centigrade and five of us, despite the sweltering heat, went to have an ocular inspection of NEC 330 a day before the lecture. Surprisingly, the room was too huge for an expected 30-person attendance. The cloth we brought to cover the windows was not even enough to cover a fraction of it. The speakers had required a projector for the lecture but the room was too bright for the projector to be viewed. So, the projector was discarded.

The white walls need disfiguring. Instead of graffiti, photos were plastered on the walls to show the trainees’ in action. The Philippine map dotted with pins where MMS "has beens" was also put on display. A collection of picturesque scenes of mountains also plastered the wall for special viewing, not only to whet the appetite of the trainees (as if it’s necessary) but to show others what they’ve been missing or will miss.

Weeks before the scheduled date, the group was trying to contact Dr. Nick Pacis for the lecture on first aid. It was important that Nick be able to provide the equipment and dummy for actual demo. But last minute modifications were made and the team who will provide the equipment were called for emergency. We have expected complaints to arise because last year, we also have encountered the same problem (lack of equipment & dummy). True enough, a few aired complaints. But not only because of the lack of equipment but due to lack of volunteers who will be willing to do CPR and other resuscitating methods.

Of all batches that has undergone training, this batch has the most number of invited speakers who are experts in their own respective fields. Take for instance the two speakers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This is the first for MMS to have speakers who can speak extensively on the environment. Mind you, both these speakers were only too willing to share and educate our group on topics pertaining to the environment, the protected areas and wildlife. Even the old members were enlightened by the valuable lectures. Ms. Elenita Basug from the Environmental Management Bureau has discussed the state of the Philippine environment and ways on how to further prevent it from deterioration. Another speaker, Ms. Roscela Poyatos, is from the Special Concerns Office of DENR. She talked about biodiversity, protected areas and wildlife. Her talk was an eye-opener, mostly highlighting on awareness of the surrounding area, what makes the mountain different from the others and man’s or should I say MMS’s moral obligations to conserve biodiversity. She also cited some organisations we could contact to help promote ecotourism—denotes tourism that is environmentally, culturally and socially aware, that is responsible and sustainable.

Much to everyone’s disappointment, the lecture came to an end. It sure put to light MMS’s moral obligation to the environment as mountaineers:

You can reach the speakers through:

  1. Ms. Elenita Basug -Environmental Management Bureau

Tel no. 927-0224 & 924-7540
  1. Ms. Roscela Pamela Poyatos - Special Concerns Office (DENR)

Tel no. 926-8346 & 929-6626 loc. 2036

Fax no. 927-6336

Email: roscel.poyatos@eudoramail.com

For research:

  1. DENR Library(Mon-Fri) 8am-5pm

3rd Floor, Visayas Avenue,QC

Books are not allowed to be taken out. Bring your own xerox machine.

b. PAWB Library(Mon-Fri)8am-5pm

Building near the entrance of Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife

Librarian was kind enough to xerox materials for you.
  1. Forest Management Bureau Library

Building beside DENR

Special thanks to:

Dr. Nick Pacis

DENR

MMS group of five: Jun, Bob, Jeric , Long & Rodel (for the unused projector)

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