By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

In a continued push for environmental stewardship among student-grantees, CHED-UniFAST Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) joined the successful two-day rollout of Project SAGIP by the University of the Cordilleras (UC), held on June 18–19, 2025, at Bayan Park and Mirador Eco Park in Baguio City.

Prior to the tree-planting activity, UC staff conducted an orientation on proper seedling planting techniques, ensuring that participants were equipped with the knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to the initiative.

Following the orientation, Ms. Ligaya Vindua, Registrar of UC, delivered an encouraging message to the student-grantees: “For trees to truly thrive, we must plant them with care and intention. Don’t treat this project merely as a requirement of your scholarship, but as a personal contribution to protecting our environment,” she emphasized.

Organized by UC’s Student Affairs Services – Student Development and Welfare Center, the event gathered 108 grantees of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program, who collectively planted 270 seedlings, including pine trees and cherry guava trees. This initiative significantly contributes to the city’s ongoing efforts in reforestation and environmental sustainability.

Regional Coordinators from CHED-UniFAST CAR joined and documented the activity. Ms. Marife Calimodag and Ms. Danielle Galong represented the office on Day 1, while Ms. Jezeny Laoyan and Mr. Lemuel Refuerzo attended on Day 2.

Project SAGIP—Scholars and Grant-in-Aid Beneficiaries Action in Greening Initiative Program—is a regional flagship program that instills environmental awareness and responsibility among grantees. The project encourages each student-grantee to plant at least one indigenous or fruit-bearing tree per year during their scholarship or grant period.

This greening program underscores a broader message: that student-grantees are not only recipients of educational support, but also key players in community and environmental stewardship. Through collaborative efforts like this, CHED-UniFAST CAR and UC continue to shape future professionals who are not only academically excellent but also socially aware and environmentally responsible citizens.