DENR awards Foundation University as sustainable, eco-friendlyschool in the country

Foundation University emerged victorious in its bid in the National Search for

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools as it shared the honor with only four other

universities among 78 public and private schools across all levels in the country.

It is the lone higher education institution in the Visayas to be named as a sustainable

and eco-friendly school together with Bukidnon State University, Central Mindanao State

University, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and Cavite State University.

The awards ceremony was held on April 22, 2026 in Quezon City, coinciding with

the celebration of Earth Day. All 15 winners from elementary, high school and

college/university categories, who were announced right on the day itself, were each given

a cash prize of P100,000 and a plaque of recognition.

Accepting the award on behalf of University President Victor Vicente G. Sinco was

Russelle Jamili, director of the Safety and Security Department and university environment

officer.

In 2013, Foundation University became a regional winner in the national search,

which was launched in 2009 and eventually became a biennial competition of the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Environmental

Management Bureau.

The university became a national winner in 2015, sharing the honors with St. Paul

University Dumaguete, University of La Salle, and Central Bicol State University of

Agriculture.

Today, 11 years hence, Foundation University lives up to its mission of being a

sustainable and eco-friendly, green campus as it was among the shortlisted top seven

finalists where the judges conducted an on-site validation in March 2026.

The competition underwent a rigorous selection process that included a screening

of entries and a table review of the national board of judges composed of representatives

from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources, and private partners. The judges were given three

months to rate the entries.

The program is a direct response to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action

Plan that calls for the establishment of sustainable schools in every ASEAN member-state.

It also supports Republic Act 9512 otherwise known as the Environmental Awareness and

Education Act of 2008 and is included in the National Environmental Education Action Plan

for 2018-2040.

The award-winning schools/universities were chosen based on very stringent

criteria: a) environment and climate change dimensions in school operations (50 points);

environment and climate change-related features of the school curriculum (30 points); and,

presence of vibrant eco-organizations in campus (20 points).

In addition, Foundation University was likewise rated in its waste management

program, pollution prevention program, efficient use of resources, maintenance of green

space, and its reduction and mitigation of the effects of climate change. These efforts,

including their integration into the curriculum, were expounded by the various academic

and support units of the university during the validation visit and actual interviews among

the faculty, staff, and students.

The search went on hiatus in 2019 to 2024 because of the pandemic and was re-

launched in 2025. To date, since the program started, there have been six recognition

ceremonies conducted and 272 schools were recognized as regional and national

champions, receiving honors from the ASEAN community through the ASEAN Eco-School

Programme.

The national award for Foundation University, according to Jamili, may be elevated

further as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to submit a

recommendation to compete in the forthcoming ASEAN Sustainability Awards, thereby,

increasing its internationalization exposure and gaining leverage for world university

rankings.