CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Councilor Jaime Lazatin is urging education officials here to integrate lessons in recycling and environmental protection in the school curriculum.

Lazatin said Monday that he will meet with education officials to discuss his proposal which is in line with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) directive to all public and private elementary and secondary schools to integrate climate change adaptation (CCA) measures in the school curriculum starting next year.

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Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has already directed DepEd technical personnel to fine tune the guidelines on the new curriculum and immediately implement the curriculum next year in coordination with various sectors.

Lazatin said there is a need to institutionalize this move in all public elementary and city schools to ensure the continuity of the program. He also added that schools should also pay close attention to the use of plastics and the dangers that it pose on the environment.

He cited the need to create an integrated school curriculum on social sciences and values education subjects that will incorporate lessons, activities and discussions of global warming and curbing the use of plastic.

“The program would include at least a 10 minute discussion on the state of the environment, measures to undertake and possible alternatives to harmful practices. We are going to discuss with school officials of the possibility of holding a week long or whole day interschool competition on recycling,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin is a member of the Alang Plastikan Coalition formed early last week that advocates the curbing-out of the use of plastic bags in day-to-day commercial activities. Lazatin said that his move to institutionalize the program in the school level is fully supported by the coalition.

He said he will also meet with owners of business establishments here to encourage them to provide rewards and incentives to schools who are going to participate in recycling activities.