Sen. Loren Legarda is pushing new legislation that would require the inclusion of a new subject on the environment, to be taught in all four levels of high school, in an aggressive bid to purposely heighten youth awareness of the need for conservation to achieve sustainable economic growth.

        Under Senate Bill 1097, authored by Legarda, a special curriculum review board -- an ad hoc body -- would be created to develop the content and instructional design of the new subject, to be known as “Environment and Development” or ED.

        The board would conduct research and identify the topics to be covered by the new subject and set guidelines for its immediate integration in the high school program.

        The board would also develop the training program for teachers and set the minimum requirements and guidelines for those who may be allowed to lecture on the new subject.

        The board would be composed of the Secretary of Education; Secretary of Environment and Natural Resource; Assistant Education Secretary for Plans and Programs; and three representatives each from private schools and civil society groups engaged in environmental protection.

        As proposed by Legarda, the new subject would be designed such that the topics would be divided in four levels -- Environment and Development I to IV -- to correspond to students from the first to fourth year levels of high school.

        Legarda’s proposal came as Metro Manila girds for a 10-percent water supply cutback, starting Aug. 15, amid the persistent dry spell that has reduced considerably the volume of water at the Angat Dam.

        The dam is Metro Manila’s main water supplier via the La Mesa Watershed and Lake.

        Angat’s water hoard has plunged to a critically low level due to the prolonged dry spell. The drought has been aggravated by the destruction of forest trees, including those around Ipo Dam, which is part of the 62,309-hectare Angat watershed.

        “Metro Manila’s water crisis betrays our vulnerability to the consequences of rapid environmental degradation,” Legarda said.

        “Severe dry spells are here to stay. We may have relief from some heavy rainfall every now and then, but the spells are bound to recur, even worsen in the years ahead,” she warned.

        “We have to consciously raise public awareness of the need to check rapid forest destruction and unabated greenhouse emissions that have accelerated global warming,” the senator stressed.

        “We should start doing this, by raising youth vigilance with respect to the safekeeping of the environment,” she added.