Manila, July 2 -- For most estero and river rangers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), workday begins while most of the city is still asleep

Even before sunrise, these environmental warriors are already making their rounds, pulling plastic waste from waterways along Manila Bay and clearing clogged drainage to help prevent flooding in communities.

While quietly doing their job, many of them are also chasing their dream - to earn a college degree, thanks to the partnership between the DENR and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Through the PUP Open University, environmental frontliners were given access to higher education while allowing them to work full-time so they could continue supporti...