DMMMSU Environmental Concerns, Sustainability, and Development (ECSD) Unit, in collaboration with the Young Earthsavers’ Society (YES) of the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), successfully conducted the 4th Women and Environment Talk at the GIS Function Hall, DMMMSU-NLUC, Sapilang, Bacnotan, on March 26, 2025. The event was held in celebration of National Women’s Month.

YES President Ms. Chinie D. Barnachea welcomed the participants, emphasizing the role of women and youth in addressing climate change. Prof. Desiree A. Vilar, IES Director, commended the initiative and called for sustained advocacy on women’s involvement in environmental protection.

US Peace Corps volunteers Ms. Lily Thompson and Ms. Lili Tucker shared their environmental initiatives, particularly in coastal resource management and education in La Union. They discussed their training on citizen science and the integration of local knowledge in managing Marine Protected Areas (MPA). The volunteers highlighted the need for greater female participation in environmental programs, from planning to monitoring.

Also, Mr. Miguel Vargas, founder of Dalumpinas Oeste Eco-Rangers (DOERS), shared his experience in initiating a daily coastal cleanup during the pandemic, which has since expanded into a larger environmental movement. DOERS now engages in plogging, operates a pawikan hatchery, and nurtures coastal tree species.

ECSD Unit Director Mr. Celso H. Jucutan closed the event by urging participants to become proactive environmental stewards, emphasizing the collaborative role of both men and women in promoting sustainability. (By Celso H. Jucutan)