CSU Alumni Practice Plogging, Advocate Environmental Protection and Sustainability

The Public Information, Alumni and External Affairs (PIAEA) office and the Caraga State University Alumni Association Inc. (CSUAAI) had been advocating environmental protection and sustainability for years now. This alumni homecoming 2018, with host batch 1993, the group introduced plogging as one of its pre-homecoming activities. It is the first time in Mindanao that plogging has been done and we did it here in Caraga at Caraga State University.

“Plogging” is the Swedish fitness craze for people who want to save the planet.  Sweden's latest fitness craze — Plogging — is also making its way in the USA. The term is a mash-up or a portmanteau of jogging and the Swedish “plockaupp,” meaning pick up. In this case, litter or rubbish. It's not just good for health; it's also good for the environment.

On May 18, 2018, the PIAEA, CSUAAI, and host batch 1993 led by Dr. Sonia R. Low. Hon. Gerry Joey S. Laurito, and Batch 1993 President Anna Goles went around the 32 hectares CSU land area for Plogging and walked another kilometer up to the end of the 200 hectares CSU land area for Tree Growing clad with garden gloves, trash picking sticks, and hats. The alumni plogged and walked while singing batch 1993’s graduation song, “We could have it all” with the lines-“Give each other love everyday” as 2018 CSU Alumni Homecoming theme.

Dr. Danilo Gaas assigned the area to the alumni to help stabilize the river bed and to sustain the existence of the creek. Dr. Andig also helped in facilitating the release of Mahogany seedlings. The PIAEA also invited the City Environment Regulations Office headed by Ms. Ruth Jugao to join the said plogging. Ms. Jugao was motivated to replicate the activity in the different barangays in Butuan City. ABS-CBN Rodge Cultura who is an alumnus of CSU was also invited, and joined the Plogging briefly.

CSU President Anthony M. Penaso, who was with the other panel members as Chair of the NBC Board comprising the different State Universities and Colleges (SUC) presidents for a two-day Professorial Accreditation, expressed his support through a phone message to the PIAEA. The CSU maverick president is usually present in most of the alumni activities.

On the other hand, the alumni host batch 1993 pledged to carry on with the tree growing and tree caring by assigning members of the batch to regularly water and care for the planted tree seedlings. All attendees to the environmental advocacy signed to commit themselves to the care and protection of mother Earth. MJGT & LMC