・Summary
The ocean is the cradle of life. It covers more than 70% of our planet and
provides sustenance, livelihood, and pleasure for countless individuals. In the Philippines, an archipelagic country with over 7,600 islands, the ocean plays a
pivotal role in the country's culture, economy, and sustenance. However, various
forms of pollution have been threatening its health and biodiversity for many
years. Among these threats, ocean acidification, marine litter, and marine toxins
in seafood have been posing serious implications. The responsibility to safeguard
this precious resource from further harm, thus, falls to all of us, and it begins
with the cultivation of love and respect for the ocean from a young age. This
proposal presents a comprehensive initiative to empower children through
education and engagement to play an active role in addressing these
environmental challenges. The objective is to nurture a generation of stewards
for the ocean, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) 14 – Life Below Water.
