By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 has reported that all is set for the first of its kind event dubbed “TreeVolution” come Sept. 26 starting at 8:30a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Mr. Carlito Tuballa, regional technical director for Forest Management Services (FMS) in a media forum held on Tuesday said “this is a very significant event because we will be breaking the record established by India for having planted 1,945,535 million trees in a span of one hour in 108 locations across the country with 340,200 participants.
“This big event will be participated in by six regions in Mindanao targeting at least 4.6 million seedlings to be planted in 9,200 hectares of land and will be participated in by at least 244, 444 planters. Each participant is expected to plant at least 20 seedlings in a span of one hour with 500 seedlings per hectare,” Tuballa added.
On the other hand, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Vitaliano Valdez said “it is important that we plant trees to help protect and preserve our environment, but more so we will be capturing the sensitivity of the people by promoting public awareness on the environment.”
Meanwhile, Melvin Sarcauga, focal person for National Greening Program (NGP) said “the TreeVolution is not only to break the record set by India, but more importantly to stir the hearts and minds of Mindanaoan’s the importance in planting trees for the protection of our environment,” adding, “by planting trees we can help lessen the effects and impacts of climate change that we are now experiencing.”
Both Serena Cabrera and Vilaliano Valdez CENROs of Pagadian City and Guipos municipality, respectively, were elated to report that a big turnout of participants came to their offices to manifest their participation in “this gigantic event.”
TreeVolution is a joint activity of the DENR, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in collaboration with the local government units.
