SUBIC, Zambales — The Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), proponent of a coal-fired thermal power plant project at the Redondo Peninsula, launched on Sept. 16 its Basura-Palit-Gamit-Eskwela program, a spin-off project of the International Coastal Cleanup where-in students can exchange collected recyclables and other trash for school supplies.

The firm, in partnership with Kinabuksan Integrated School in Sitio Kinabuksan, Brgy. Cawag in this municipality, also conducted the 3rd Protect the Bay Coastal Cleanup in the area, and attracted participants from among students of the community school, residents and local officials.

Atty. Wilma T. Eisma, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and SBMA director Tomas Lahom II, were guests of honor in the program and led in the distribution of school supplies to school children.

TEACHING KIDS
“Beyond doing a clean-up, we want to instill environmental awareness among the youth. We use this as a venue to also teach them about proper waste segregation and recycling. In other words, start them young,” said RP Energy Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jason Gavina.

School principal Alex Viado said that since the launching of the Protect the Bay program here, school children had been doing monthly cleanup of the shoreline. “We actually consider this as a best-practice in our school and we have adopted this program in our curriculum,” Viado revealed.

FLAGSHIP PROJECT
The Protect the Bay Initiative is RP Energy’s flagship program for the environment and its goal is to build a community of volunteers and organizations that will promote environmental stewardship and create sustainable livelihood within the Subic Bay communities.

Meralco PowerGen VP for External Affairs Litz San-tana said the project has become a multi-sectoral effort and platform, engaging volunteers from the government, and from among parents and fisherfolks. “It is them who will sustain the success of this program,” she pointed out.

Launched in April, the RP Energy project is supported by DENR, Coast Guard, CENRO-Olongapo, SBMA, and the Subic LGU, among others.