Michael Garlan, a 4th year BS Education major in Biological Science, was chosen one of the top four winners in the 2012 Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) during the award presentation ceremony on Aug. 23 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Garlan, who ranked third among the 12 national finalists coming from the different colleges and universities in the country, is the second WVCST student to reach the national finals and the first to win as one of the top four Bayer Young Environmental Envoys (BYEE).  He impressed the judges with his project on “Saving the Corals, Helping the Fisherfolks, and Educating the Young on the Infestation of Crown-of-the Thorns (Acauthaster Planci) on the Coral Reefs of Guimaras Island.”  Garlan led the campaign to control the population of coral pest called crown-of-thorns sea star and converted them into fertilizer to help save the remaining reef of Guimaras. The relevance and wide impact of Garlan’s project to the environment earned him the prestigious award. 

The other three BYEE winners who will join Garlan represent the Philippines to the all- expense paid Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Field Trip to Germany on November 4-9, 2012 are: Ruiz Joy Escollar and Marylour Avila, both of the University of Iloilo and Jezreel Ezer Archival of the University of Cebu-Banilad Campus. The study tour will provide first-hand experience on how environmental protection is practiced by people, government, and industry in a country that leads in technology and environmental awareness.

Garlan was accompanied during the awarding ceremonies by Dr. Susan Marie Dela Cruz, Dean of Student Affairs and Mr. Joselito Mendoza, BYEE Adviser and science professor of the college.

The Bayer Youth Environmental Envoy programme is a global flagship project under the Bayer-United Nations Environment Programme partnership whose aim is to raise environmental awareness among young people and support them in their ecological pursuits.