For its proposal to launch the first green algae microfarm in the country, Muntinlupa National High School recently bagged the 2019 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the East Asia and Pacific Region.
MNHS proposed efficient algae cultivation with photo-bioreactors to produce algae products such as renewable fuel.
Through the school-based algae microfarm, MNHS and its nearby communities can produce high-value products that are sustainable and profitable and are related to energy, water, food and health.
The researchers also envisioned a Community Hub that will serve as a research and training facility, catering to product development and livelihood training.
MNHS bested other finalists in the Global High Schools Category: New Zealand’s Fiordland College, Australia’s Lowanna College, and Fiji’s Nabala Secondary School.
The United Arab Emirates government granted $100,000 to fund the project.
MNHS research teacher Regaele Olarte, who was also named Metrobank Outstanding Teacher in 2016, received the prize on Monday as part of the “World Future Energy Summit” at Abu Dhabi, UAE.
She was accompanied by fellow teacher Jason Albaro and student-researcher Maria Eliza May Faldas.
Also present in the awarding ceremonies were the country’s vice consul to the UAE Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Muntinlupa schools division superintendent Mauro de Gulan, and MNHS principal Rante Marmeto.
Established in 2008, the Zayed Future Energy Prize honors the environmental legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of United Arab Emirates.
In April 2018, the Prize focused on multiple sustainability sectors and thus renamed the Zayed Sustainability Prize, making it aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.Aside from East Asia and Pacific Region, other regional categories were The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa (Mena), Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia.