CONCERNED members of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) community have expressed their support to Executive Order No. 19-08 Series of 2019 issued by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. declaring the province as coal-free.
These members , in a collective statement signed on Thursday, said they strongly agree that environmental protection is inter-generational thus, it is everybody’s concern.
Marañon signed the order simultaneous with the "Youth Strike for Negros" activity held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City on March 6.
The youth-led mobilization was participated by at least 2,000 students in the province, mostly from schools and parishes under the Diocese of San Carlos.
Aside from being coal-free, the order also declares the province as a source of clean and renewable energy.
As they lauded the organizers, mobilizers and participants of the protest, they also called on more Negrenses to continue to respond to the call of the times.
"We need to help protect and conserve Negros Island through clean and renewable energy and green technology," the statement said.
It added that "we add our collective voice to the thousands of students and young people from different schools, parishes, communities and organizations who mobilized themselves against climate change and called for a coal-free Negros."
These members of CHMSC community also appealed to all provincial and local officials and legislators to heed the call of the constituents, especially the youth, for the present and future generations.
"May your policy decisions and actions mirror scientific consensus. Prohibiting coal plants in the province is no doubt a bold step in the right direction to secure a better and brighter future for Negros," the statement said.
"We join the global and local movements against climate change in working towards creative and collaborative solutions to one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced," it added.