THE NATIONAL Youth Commission (NYC)-National Service Training Program (NSTP) Awards Secretariat has chosen the College of Industrial Technology’s (CIT) entry, \"Nature CARE (Call of Aggressive Rehabilitation of Environment) Program\" as one of the ten awardees of the Firstt NSTP Awards-Search for the Best Environmental Program.

Melanio R. Santella Jr., chief of the NYC Regional Youth Division, congratulated CIT for being one of the pioneering winners of the said program that aims to give recognition to outstanding NSTP units nationwide with commendable activities promoting environment in accordance with E.O. 579. 

The program also aims to gather data/information on effective ways to implement environmental programs through the NSTP for the development of sound policies in advancing the role of the youth in environmental preservation by: creating a databank of good practices in the promotion of environmental protection and preservation; serving as an avenue for the promotion of positive values and environmental awareness; encouraging NSTP units to develop sustainable environmental programs that may be replicated throughout the country; and recognize NSTP units which have seriously advocated for the successful implementation of E.O. 579 in their respective curriculums.

According to Dr. Ma. Victoria R. Domingo, CIT NSTP coordinator, the \"Nature CARE\" Program is an environment advocacy initiative that provides NSTP-CWTS students of CIT training ground for environment stewardship.  Implemented last school year, the program adopted a holistic approach to empower, develop, and enable the students to participate actively – within their limited capacities – in environment-based projects. The project had six components: capability, campus, community, tree, park, and highway care.

The capability care component took charge of the students\' social preparation for their stewardship role. It includes awareness and consciousness raising, values orientation, and information enhancement.  The campus care component, on the other hand, aimed to train the students to start their environment activities in the campus.

The community care component brought the students to tie-up with Brgy. 1 San Lorenzo Council and its Zanjera Association for \"Linis Kalye\" and \"Linis Irigasyon\" while the tree care component engaged the students in activities such as soil potting for use of the DENR nursery and tree planting for the Ilocos Norte Water District.

The park care component involved the students in an advocacy program on waste disposal of tourists at the Cape Bojeador Light House and Burgos Fish Sanctuary.  The highway care component engaged the students to conduct tree surgery along the Badoc-Batac national highway which involved removal of posters and advertisements nailed on live trees.

The CIT NSTP group will receive their award from the NYC in ceremonies at the Malacañang Palace to be announced later.