CCC's Street Art Contest 200 - Street Art With A Purpose

It's Round 200 of the CCC's Street Art Contest hosted by @digi-me. Find out more about this challenging competition here. Do read up and join in the fun in Street Art hunting.

It was in CCC's Street Art Contest 85 when I first introduced this front wall of the Davao City Philippine National Police Headquarters located at San Pedro Extension Street. It is known locally as the PC Barracks from the old days when the Philippine National Police was still called the Police Constabulary. Back in Round 85 of this contest the wall looked entirely different. The murals then were all about fighting the communist rebels and insurgents in the country. A few months ago, I noticed that the murals have all been changed. This time the theme of the street art is now devoted to environmental concerns and issues.

As you may not know yet, the Philippines is still basically an agricultural country. Many of our countrymen depend on farming for their livelihood, especially those in the upland and mountain areas. Due to lack of education, most farmers in the upland resort to slash and burn type of farming where the lands are totally cleared of all vegetation, including trees, burned and the ashes used as fertilizer. After a few seasons, the fertility of the land becomes exhausted and the farmers move on to another area to do the same thing. This widespread farming system is called kaingin and causes destruction of forests and watersheds.

Knowing the adverse effects of this unsustainable method of farming, the PNP decided to change their street art to create awareness on responsible and sustainable farming.

They also have a section on the wall that addresses saving the mangroves of our seasides.

In case you are wondering what the wall looked like back in Round 85 the photo below is for your reference. It shows the PNP in battle with rebels and insurgents.

And that's it for this post. Just wanted to share how, in their own little way, our National Police is helping in creating awareness about our environmental problems. Whether policing the agriculture areas to stop slash and burn farmers to countering aggressive forces against the country, we do have a lot to be grateful for them.

Stay safe everyone and may you all have a blessed weekend.

(All photos are mine.)