SLSU–Bontoc turns Sto. Niño shoreline into Inclusive “Living Classroom”

What began as a coastal clean-up and mangrove planting activity in Sto. Niño became a distinct model of inclusive, hands-on learning as Southern Leyte State University–Bontoc Campus reimagined environmental extension work through its “Green Circuits” program conducted on May 16, 2026.

Led by the RIPE Office in partnership with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers–Student Chapter, the activity brought together Electrical Engineering students, faculty members, university staff, and members of the Foundation for These-Abled Persons, Inc.—not in separate groups, but in mixed teams working side by side along the shoreline.

Along Sto. Niño’s coast, volunteers removed plastic waste, broken glass, and fishing debris. But beyond the clean-up itself, what stood out was the structure of participation, where persons with disabilities actively worked alongside students and faculty, reshaping the activity into a shared field experience rather than a segmented outreach effort.

The learning component was also embedded directly in the field. Resource speaker Mr. Jimmy E. Salamida delivered an on-site orientation on mangrove ecosystems, linking coastal protection, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction to the environment participants were standing in.

This was immediately followed by mangrove planting, where participants applied proper spacing and planting techniques in real time, turning the shoreline into a practical learning site for ecological restoration.

By the end of the day, the initiative left more than a restored coastal area—it demonstrated a working model of extension service where environmental action, engineering education, and inclusion operate together in a single shared space.

The activity combined environmental action, learning, and community participation in promoting environmental restoration and sustainability. It also supported several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.