Sorsogon’s Eco-Youth Summit 2012: protecting ecosystem for sustainable development

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, September 10 (PIA) – A collaborative eco-experience for over 1,500 delegates from 14 municipalities and other provinces throughout the Bicol region will convene in a forum dubbed as Eco-Youth Summit 2012 on October 13-14, 2012 at the Provincial Gymnasium, this city.

Said summit is spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Sorsogon under the leadership of Hon. Governor Raul R. Lee, Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation led by its President, Board Member Patrick Lee-Rodrigueza and the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines Vice-President for Luzon, Sorsogon City Vice Mayor Robert Ante Lee-Rodrigueza.

Summit project coordinator Bobby Gigantone said that the activity will provide the youths across the region with the opportunity to explore innovative science-based strategies which are socially and culturally acceptable to create, manage and protect the Bicol’s ecosystem.

Gigantone further said that the summit will also provide a high-profile platform to encourage exchange of ideas among researchers, planners and decision-makers to develop a better understanding of the complex nature of ecological systems and the means to protect and enhance their services for sustainable development.

“Eco Youth Summit advocates for the rights of young people and facilitates youth participation in development as well as provide a network for young people to learn and exchange ideas on a range of pressing global issues protecting ecosystem for sustainable development,” he added.

“This also seeks to make government, schools and communities more responsive to the aspirations of youth for a better world and to place the actions, experiences and ideas of young people on local and national agenda,” he said.

The summit will also highlight the Eco Night Run, the first ever in the province, which is open to all interested participants. The night run will start at 6:00 pm on October 13, 2012.

Gigantone however stressed out that the organizers will only allow the entry of participants who have signed their waver of liability and declaration with medical certificate.

“Participants below 18 years old may join the race, but their entry forms will be approved or counter-signed by a parent or legal guardian,” he also said.

Categories for the event race open to the public include 10k, 5k and 3k (for kids from 12 years old and below) for both female and male division.

Trophies and cash prizes will be given away for the top three winners in each race division – P5,000 for the 1^st  place finisher for the 10k run, P2,000 for the top 5k runner and special prizes for the Top Three winners of the 3k run.

A special award will also be given to the biggest delegation who submits a minimum of 25 entries and the family who will join and cross the finish line together.

Other activities are also lined up such as Green Supermarket, Mangrove Planting, Green Cinema/Film Festival and environmental band concert “Tunog Kalikasan” to make the event more meaningful for the youth delegates.

All interested may keep in touch with the conference secretariat at telephone number (056) 305-4496 or contact Leny Galan with mobile numbers 09194588370 and 09175797147 or Joan Basallaje with mobile number 09219826240 for further inquiries and reservations. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)