STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER CONSERVATION AS PERCEIVED BY GRADE 12 HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS AT BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Environmental assessment is currently undergoing transformative changes in response to growing ecological challenges. Strategies for environmental conservation are commonly observed in practices such as recycling, waste management, and energy conservation, while water conservation involves techniques like rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, and water resource management. According to the Model of Ecolabel in Environmental Conservation by Arita Marini et al. (2021), environmental conservation is influenced by three key factors: environmentally informative instruments, eco-friendly labeling, and environmental protection. This study aims to examine the strategies and practices in environmental and water conservation as perceived by Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. The study employs an exploratory-quantitative research design. A cluster sampling technique was used to select 200 Grade 12 HUMSS students as respondents. Data were gathered through a structured survey questionnaire that assessed their perceptions regarding environmental and water conservation practices. Based on the results, this shows a summary of strategies in environmental conservation in terms of recycling, waste management, and energy conservation. The overall weighted mean for recycling is 3.50, for waste management is 3.46, and for energy conservation is 3.50. The results for water conservation practices in terms of rainwater harvesting, recycled wastewater, and water management are as follows: the overall weighted mean for rainwater harvesting is 3.41, for recycled wastewater is 3.37, and for water management is 3.48. The findings highlight that Grade 12 HUMSS students at Bestlink College of the Philippines strongly agreed with the implementation of recycling strategies, particularly in the collection and processing of materials typically discarded as waste. The researchers developed an action plan to further strengthen strategies and practices in environmental and water conservation based on these student perceptions. The proposed initiatives aim to support both individual and community-level sustainability efforts within the academic environment.