PA’s 1st cavalry squadron supports PNoy’s greening program

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – Members of Philippine Army (PA) were united in supporting the national greening program (NGP) of the government by conducting a tree planting activity dubbed “Tree Growing” recently.

First Cavalry Squadron, formerly the First Light Armor Battalion (ILAB) of the 1^st Infantry (Tabak) Division was established on August 16, 1963 providing armor support to infantry battalions engaged in combat operations. Its  area of responsibility covers  Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte,  Misamis Occidental, Basilan and Sulu. 

Lt. Col. Antonio John Divinagracia, First Cavalry Squadron commander, said some 200 mahogany seedlings were planted in Barangay San Isidro, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur in support of  Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Feruary 24, 2011 declaring an interdepartmental convergence initiative for a national greening program.

“The ‘tree growing,’ is the 1^st Cavalry Squadron’s initiative where 36 officers and enlisted men of the regiment have planted 200 mahogany seedlings in the river banks of barangay San Isidro, Labangan and another 200 mahogany seedlings in San Isidro Elementary School.   This is our own little way of support to the greening program of the national government,” Divinagracia said.

“We want to convey our message to the public that aside from protecting and conserving our environment, we are also promoting Internal Peace and Security Plan or the “Bayanihan” campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) where we talk and coordinate with the stakeholders,” he pointed out.

The First Cavalry Squadron chose Barangay San Isidro as the pilot area for its “tree growing” activity as some parts of the place are almost denuded. “We need to prevent soil erosion and landslides to happen in our AOR,” Divinagracia explained.

“We called the activity as “tree growing” because we do not only plant but also take care and nurture the plants by regularly visiting planted seedlings,” stressed the company commander.

Since the “tree growing” is the company’s continuing program, Divinagracia said “we will be planting additional 1,000 mahogany seedlings on August 16, 2013 in Navalan, Tukuran and Manlayag, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur during the 50^th founding anniversary of the company.  (PIA9)