Region 12 delegation adopts clean, green, eco-friendly policies in 2014 Palaro

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, May 1 — The Region 12 or Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) delegation has adopted the Department of Education’s (DepEd) “clean, green and eco-friendly policy” for the upcoming 2014 Palarong Pambansa.

Dr. Allan Farnazo, DepEd Region 12 director, said Thursday such move was in compliance with DepEd Memorandum Order No. 44, which mainly aims to promote environmental and sound measures as well as the proper conservation of resources.

He said their delegation is fully implementing the DepEd policy during their two-week stay in Sta. Cruz, Laguna for the national games, which is slated on May 4 to 10.

The official said he directed the strict compliance of such policies, which were mainly implemented in the delegation’s billeting quarters.

He said it includes keeping the rooms and school premises clean at all times; proper waste segregation; conservation of energy by switching off the lights and electric fans before leaving the rooms; avoiding vandalism; taking good care of all school facilities, including keeping the toilets and latrines functional at all times; and, observance of silence and curfew time from 9 p.m. onwards

“All athletes were obliged to use their own utensils, plates and lunch boxes, instead of using plastics and styrofoam,” he said.

Farnazo said a sanitation area was also established at the delegation’s mess hall for the proper sterilization of all utensils before and after eating.

He said such move was in response to the food poisoning case in last year’s Palaro in Dumaguete City that downed around 200 athletes.

“Our delegation has set up an orderly and presentable mess hall. All tables and chairs, including the stage, were designed in purple and white, which is the official Palaro color of Region 12,” he said.

Aside from getting more gold medals this year, Farnazo said they are targeting to also win some minor awards like the most disciplined delegation, most organized delegation and the most clean, green and eco-friendly delegation.

Region 12, which is also known as the Soccsksargen Region, comprises the province of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.(PNA)