Surabaya Eco School 2015 to Be Based on Environment Conservation

Surabaya (Antara Jatim) - The Surabaya city government, in cooperation with Tunas Hijau Foundation and PT Pembangkit Jawa Bali, is organizing Surabaya Eco School (SES) 2015 with water conservation and environmental protection as the theme.

"Currently, Surabaya has the best air quality in Indonesia. We must maintain it," Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini said while opening SES 2015 here on Wednesday.

Under the SES 2014 program, the city government had opened several institutes, including elementary, junior and senior high schools with the eco school status, she added.

SES 2015 is aimed at implementing environmental programs involving all stakeholders. One of the programs will be sorting trash and recycling it.

Schools in the city must also form environmental teams and journalism programs initiated by students with the help of teachers.

In addition, they must carry out programs for the environment that help local residents, as well.

Rismaharini further noted that the city government plans to conserve the environment by planting various kinds of pine trees along Kenjeran coast and by installing solar cells as an alternative source of electrical power.

"For the time being, as the initiative is in the trial phase, only the City Hall is using solar cells as an alternative energy source. However, all government and school buildings in Surabaya city must use solar cells," the mayor emphasized. (*)