A random survey of school children in Baguio City showed
that only a few understood the interconnectedness of water
coming from their faucets with the forest. In addition,
none of the children had seen or been to a forest. This
realization gave birth to Eco-walk, a program that aimed
to create environmental awareness among children through
an experiential learning and value enhancing process. Conceived
in 1992, the project is a joint undertaking of the city
government with the schoolteachers, government employees,
barangay officials, the youth, and socio-civic organizations.
The activities include the following: guided hikes to the
Busol watershed twice a week, observation tour of the fauna
and flora, lectures on the effects of squatting and logging
on water resource, depletion and climatic change, environment-related
quizzes and songs, picnics, and tree planting.
The children reforested a barren area called “muyong”
in Ifugao or man-made forest, which they visit regularly.
The continuous presence of the children was a deterrent
to potential squatters and tree poachers. A total of 25,000
tree seedlings were planted and continually tended by the
same number of children. A high rate of survival of trees
ensured the availability of water from Busol, which supplied
thirty-five percent of Baguio’s water requirements.
Strong volunteerism, active involvement of barangay officials,
NGOs and the private sector and the support of the city
Mayor are among the key success factors of the project.
Eco-walk turned the Baguio Regreening Movement into a community-wide
undertaking composed of volunteer guides from different
sectors who contributed funds to sustain the project. The
proceeds from other fund-raising drives were used to construct
picnic sheds, purchase tools and equipment, and establish
a nursery.
