frustrated writer

ACHIEVE-ING MORE: GO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC FREE!

Last December 2022, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) entered another world ranking, but now in the field of listing the best institutions with the best efforts in environment and sustainability. The university ranked fifth in the Philippines and 356th in the world in the 2022 UI Greenmetric World University Rankings (UIGWIR). Determined by six criteria, MMSU gets a good placement in setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education and research. Before this, the university also ranked second in the country and 401st-600th in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Impact Rankings and top 101-200 in the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI). With this, the university claims itself as an environmentally sustainable institution. But, are we really gearing toward becoming a green campus and environmentally sustainable university?

One of the manifestations of these rankings is the offering of undergraduate degree programs at MMSU in the environment: agriculture, forestry, food technology, environmental science, marine biology, fisheries, and biology. Moreover, graduate school offerings in renewable energy engineering, agricultural engineering, soil and water resources engineering, and biological sciences. The university also houses some of the research centers in the country: the Natural Resources Conversion and Management Center, the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC), and the Regional Research Training Center for Climate Change Studies. Thus, MMSU invests in research that would give solutions to environmental issues. When it comes to setting and infrastructure, MMSU has numerous laboratories and research centers, such as NBERIC for the production of Nipahol. In addition, the university established the first-ever Coastal Engineering and Management Research and Development Center (COASTER), which aims to develop coastal engineering research and management of coastal disasters and risks. This shows how MMSU invests not only in environmentalrelated studies but as well as erected infrastructures to house environmental scientists and innovators in the region.

Talking about waste, I observed that single-use plastics are still prevalent and seen anywhere inside the campus. As a model university for the environment, it is high time for the institution to ease plastic pollution. According to the 2021 World Bank report, the Philippines was listed as the third-largest producer of plastics all over the world. Thus, MMSU should gear towards becoming a single-use plastic-free university so that we could participate in the reduction of waste. With more than 16,000 students, faculty, and administrators, a large number of plastics, such as bottled water, spoons, and fork, are being used and thrown in the trash bins every day.

As a member of the university publication, I could see how the cafeteria gives bottled water instead rather than providing dispensers whenever we request food and drinks during press works and coverage of university-wide events. I know, we are not the only organization that requests these. Moreso, on a normal day in the university, water dispensers in some college canteens are nowhere to be seen. Imagine how many plastics would be reduced if people bring tumblers or bottles to refill water from dispenser stations.

I know it is hard to ban plastics as it is vital in our everyday endeavor and necessities. But, as a true ecofriendly university, it is important as well to promote and advocate the reduction of plastic waste in MMSU, so that we are more than excelling in research and innovation. It is hard to achieve this matter, but one step to attaining this is for the University Student Council (USC) or the administration to pen a policy banning single-use plastics or reducing plastic waste in the university.

This column does not aim to invalidate the efforts of the university in positioning itself in the said global rankings but gives another challenge in “ACHIEVEing” more for the future.

“To reform our institutions, to transition.” This is because stability of society is of paramount importance. However, that said, we also carry an onus to move with as much speed as is both pragmatic and judicious. Academic excellence of students has been the goal of most higher education institutions; and it is due to the assumption that those who excel in their academic endeavors will soon become competent professionals, contributing to the advancement of their respective industries and of the societies they belong to. Therefore, state colleges and universities in particular exert all efforts in instilling their students of its significance, thus, challenging them to strive even more.

Indeed, Mariano Marcos State University continues to hold high the green and gold as evidenced by its various achievements in recent years. In line with its 45th founding anniversary, President Shirley Agrupis proudly presented the accolades and accomplishments of the university as guided by its seven-point agenda, ACHIEVE, in her State of the University Address (SOUA).

As a center for academic excellence, MMSU achieves more as it strives to serve its students with quality education. With this, the university is recognized on the international stage by the prestigious times higher education ranking. MMSU was ranked 401st - 600th in the world and second among Philippine Higher