Environmental Concerns Committee Proposal University Student Council 12-13

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE

Rationale
Environment is not just simply the birds, the bees, the flowers or the trees. It is also the interaction of people to its surroundings. There should be a balance in the conditions of man and nature through the initiative of man itself. As the Premier State University of the Philippines, people look up to us. Thus, Iskolars ng Bayan should be the one who will spearhead activities that would arouse ones awareness not only on political issues but also on environmental issues and appreciation of the environment, organize events and projects that would promote environmental campaigns and use these knowledge that involve both social and environmental factors in taking stands on environmental issues.

Vision-Mission
The Environmental Concerns Committee Vision is to have more informed and educated students when it comes to environmental facts and issues and put these to a higher level of awareness where actions would be taken that would help not only the environment itself but also in shedding some light to the people not only in the UP Diliman community but also to the communities outside the university with regards to the importance of our environment and their duties and responsibilities in protecting it in any ways possible.

General Objective
The Environmental Concerns Committee aims to contribute in the campaigns to save the environment by increasing awareness and involvement of the students and the U.P Community in meaningful services and activities.

Environmental Concerns Committee Proposal University Student Council 12-13

Committee Structure

EnviComm Chairperson

Secretary

Liaisons and Publicity Officer

Ways and Means Officer

Research and Information Officer

Campaigns/ Projects Review Officer

Functions:
Committee Chairperson
Convenes committee meetings Supervises the work of the committee members, and oversees the development of the projects Delegates tasks amongst members Evaluate and approves project proposals Liaison to the administration, faculty, staff and the USC

Secretary
Documents the meetings and tracks attendance Keeps the documents and turns over to secretariat committee Coordinates with the committee head and members Reports to the environmental concerns committee chairperson Documents the activities and events and/or ensures its proper documentation Heads the volcorps o Volcorps: serves as the man-power for the events

Liaisons and publicity officer

Coordinates with the UP organizations, and local councils Conceptualizes and executes promotional and publicity materials In charge of release of publicity materials

Ways and Means officer

Environmental Concerns Committee Proposal University Student Council 12-13

Devices ways for the committee to have zero consumption and little to no expenses Accounts the money flow and resource usage of the committee Arranges the venue Acquires things needed for the event Sets the program/flow of the event

Research and Information Officer

Researches on the current environmental issues and environmental policies in the national and international level Coordinates with organizations, foundations and groups outside the university

Campaigns/Projects Review Officer

Review environmental policies being implemented in the University and National Levels. Work hand-in-hand with the Research and Information Officer.

Specific Plans of Actions

1.) Environmental Groups Alliance - Establish an alliance of all organizations advocating environment in UP Diliman and shall coordinate with organizations in other UP system units sharing the same advocacy to help in strengthening each others activities. - This project will be done with the help of the head on the Committee on Organizations, Fraternities and Sororities. 2.) Policy reviews on Environment policies - The EnviCom shall lobby for a consultative system in implementing environmental policies. First phase will be inside the University then on its second phase it shall include reviews on bills on senate. The committee shall also see to it that such policies are properly implemented and shall campaign on the pending environment bills in the senate. 3.) Maintenance on Waste Management - The EnviCom shall maintain the improved waste management that was implemented through waste segregation inside the campus. We shall demand for the addition of garbage bins around the campus, specifically to colleges that still dont have good waste segregation system, and put those in strategic locations. We shall also encourage the reuse of papers/readings. These shall be in coordination with the local councils. 4.) Tree Planting Projects inside the Campus - There will be a Tree Planting Activity within the year wherein endemic trees in the Philippines like mahogany, yakal, apitong, guijo and more to address the issue of tree-cutting within the campus due to the simultaneous constructions of buildings to be initiated by the University Student Council. We shall cooperate with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs. 5.) Start Plastic Ban and Checking of the implementation of Styro Ban - The EnviCom shall promote the elimination of plastics use in purchasing food and supplies inside the campus. Only those that really necessitate the use of plastic like things from the wet market, will be allowed to use it. We shall implement the use of the brown paper bags of all sizes. 6.) Initiate Forums and Discussions

Environmental Concerns Committee Proposal University Student Council 12-13

The EnviCom shall initiate forums and seminars regarding the environment. This will raise consciousness among the people about pressing issues about the environment, and will serve as a venue for exchange of insights. These will be conducted inside and outside the campus. We will share our knowledge to the community as well. This will be in coordination with CRAW and may also be incorporated during the University Community Fair. 7.) Fund Raising Projects - To be able to make all of these plans into action and sustain these activities, the EnviCom shall organize fund raising activities like selling of Environment-shout-out shirts and Fun run activities in partnership of the different UP organizations and/or with the Environmental Groups Alliance. 8.) Establish an Environmental Volcorps - There is a need for an Environmental Volcorps given the environmental related activities that were suggested above. This will include affiliated and non-affiliated students who are environment advocates.