Growing Climate Resilience Through Community Action: HTC Leads Mangrove Planting and Environmental Awareness Initiatives

Growing Climate Resilience Through Community Action: HTC Leads Mangrove Planting and Environmental Awareness Initiatives

Holy Trinity College of General Santos City (HTC), through its National Service Training Program – Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS), continues to promote environmental responsibility and climate change awareness through community-based education and environmental initiatives. Among these efforts are the Mangrove Tree Planting Activity and Coastal Clean-Up Drive at the Sarif Mucsin Mangrove Sanctuary and the two-day workshop, Creative Resilience: Building Resilience Through Art.

Held on March 7, the mangrove planting and coastal clean-up activity brought together HTC CWTS students, instructors, and facilitators in a collective effort to protect coastal ecosystems. Participants planted mangrove seedlings and removed waste from coastal areas, demonstrating how community involvement can contribute to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation.

The activity also highlighted the importance of mangroves in protecting shorelines from erosion, providing habitats for marine biodiversity, and helping absorb carbon dioxide. Through hands-on participation, students gained a better understanding of the role of coastal ecosystems in reducing environmental risks and strengthening community resilience against climate-related impacts.

Complementing these environmental efforts, HTC also participated in the second day of the Creative Resilience: Building Resilience Through Art workshop, conducted through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Health (DOH), APAD-PH, the Philippine Coast Guard, barangay tanods, CWTS students, volunteers, and local artists.

The session focused on climate change awareness, environmental responsibility, and the importance of building informed and resilient communities. Through creative activities and the presentation of participants’ artworks, students and barangay tanods expressed their understanding of resilience, environmental protection, and collective responsibility. The workshop demonstrated how education and artistic expression can serve as effective tools for communicating important environmental messages and encouraging community participation.

Together, these initiatives reflect HTC’s commitment to extending climate and environmental education beyond the classroom. By combining practical environmental activities with community-based learning and awareness campaigns, the College empowers students and local participants to take an active role in protecting natural resources and preparing communities for environmental challenges.