The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O)

The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES‑O) was formally established on September 1, 2003 through DepEd Order No. 72, Series of 2003, a collaborative initiative between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The order declared YES‑O as the sole recognized co‑curricular environmental club in schools, consolidating all existing ecology and environmental clubs under a unified platform to strengthen student-led environmental advocacy and action 

The organization’s fundamental objective is to empower Filipino youth to safeguard and conserve the environment for future generations. Its guiding objectives include:

1. Raising awareness of environmental issues and the state of Philippine ecology;

2. Initiating practical programs and projects to address environmental concerns;

3. Networking with other YES‑O branches in schools, divisions, and regions and with government and non-government organizations;

4. Encouraging community participation in environmental movements; and

5. Instilling environmental values, skills, and attitudes among members and their communities.
   
   

Legal and Policy Foundations

With the passage of DepEd Order No. 52, Series of 2011, titled Strengthening Environmental Education in Public and Private Schools, DepEd reaffirmed YES‑O’s role in fostering environmental education across all learning areas. This order mandated the establishment, registration, monitoring, and evaluation of YES‑O in all schools, following guidelines set by the DepEd Center for Students and Co‑Curricular Affairs (CSCA) 

Later in 2011, DepEd Order No. 93, Series of 2011 delineated the Mandated Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) of the YES‑O, along with standardized forms for membership, registration, planning (CAPA), accomplishment reporting, monitoring, and target-setting. It also issued guidelines on organization structure, election procedures, scaling of awards, environmental camps, fundraising, and field monitoring by division and regional coordinators 

Organizational Structure and Membership

YES‑O operates at the school level, headed by clearly defined officer positions—President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Public Information Officer, and Peace Officer—elected annually through a democratic process under local guidelines.

Membership is open to all bona fide students with a demonstrated interest in environmental stewardship. Interested students apply through the YES‑O Moderator and, if approved, become official members. Each member has the right to speak, participate in activities, vote, and stand for election, while also bearing responsibilities to follow environmental laws, school rules, and organizational bylaws =.

Core Functions, Programs, and Activities

The core YES‑O programs fall under DepEd Order No. 93, s. 2011, which mandates specific PPAs across all schools. These include, but are not limited to:

• Establishment of seed banks and nurseries, tree planting, and caring projects

• Clean‑up drives in school and community spaces

• Waste management, segregation, recycling, and environmental entrepreneurship

• Awareness campaigns on community environmental issues, sanitation, health, and pollution

• Symposia, trainings, and environmental education seminars

• Adopt‑a‑Forest or Adopt‑a‑River programs

• Promotion of local ecotourism, watershed protection, energy and water conservation

• Disaster risk reduction and plastic‑free campaigns, and environmental fun runs or camps

Integration with academic and school activities is a hallmark of effective YES‑O implementation. In best‑practice schools, SINCE environmental projects are aligned with the DepEd Calendar of Activities—for instance, Earth Day or Science Month—without disrupting core academic functions; and initiatives like "gulayan sa paaralan" work in synergy with nutrition or feeding programs 

Governance Support and Monitoring

YES‑O is overseen by the DepEd CSCA at the national level, with implementation support and monitoring carried out by Science supervisors at the regional and division levels, and by school-based YES‑O moderators/advisers under the school head.

Annual Calendar of Annual Proposed Activities (CAPA) and Annual Accomplishment Reports (AAR) must be submitted by schools to division, region, and ultimately DepEd CSCA. A standardized ecosystem of reporting and monitoring ensures transparency, accountability, and systemic evaluation of YES‑O initiatives nationwide.

The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES‑O) is an integral component of the Philippine educational framework for environmental action. Backed by a robust legal mandate—including DepEd Orders No. 72 s. 2003, No. 52 s. 2011, and No. 93 s. 2011—its institutionalized structure, programs, and accountability mechanisms ensure widespread and meaningful youth participation in environmental conservation. Through its core mandates and networked governance, YES‑O equips students with leadership skills, environmental knowledge, and civic awareness, fostering a generation that values and actively contributes to a sustainable future.