Gideon C. Corgue
TUKURAN, Zamboanga del Sur – Some 1,000 seedlings of mahogany and narra trees and other non-fruit-bearing trees were planted by the residents of Barangay Tinotongan here on Friday, Aug. 29, during a tree planting activity led by 1st Field Artillery Battalion (FAB), Philippine Army.
1st FAB commander Lt. Col. Sonny Sales said the activity was in support of Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III dated Feb. 24, 2011 to implement the National Greening Program (NGP) with the private sector and other concerned agencies and institutions to address climate change problem.
Sales also said the activity also brought government services to the people in the area such as medical and dental services. It was the first time that such an activity was held in the said barangay.
1st FAB plans to replicate it in four other barangays, namely: Man-ilan, Sto. Rosario and Tinotongan of Tukuran town, and San Isidro and Tawagan Norte of Labangan municipality.
Speaking on behalf of Mayor Francisvic Villamero, Municipal Councilor Leomi Saysip said she lauded the efforts of 1st FAB at teaching and encouraging the people “to love our mother earth by doing their share in planting trees.”
“By planting trees in our mountains, we are helping the government in greening our environment and subsequently, we can mitigate the adverse impact of climate change that we are experiencing today,” Saysip pointed out.
Noame Mata, school principal of Tinotongan Elementay School said their teachers and students also actively participated in the tree planting activity.
“We are helping the government in planting trees because we want to preserve our environment. We don’t want to suffer from disasters like landslides and floods,” said Mata who led a group of teachers and students joining the activity.
Barangay kagawad Ronie Poro thanked the 1st FAB for leading the activity, saying “Akong gipasalamatan ang liderato sa 1st FAB tungod kay pinaagi sa maong kalihokan maprotektahan nato ang atong kalikupan (I thanked the 1st FAB leadership because through this activity, we can protect our environment).”
Participating in the tree planting activity were the 1st FAB personnel, barangay officials, teachers, students, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and Civilian Volunteer Organizations.
