By Alma L. Tingcang
TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay – Planters from all sectors of society who responded to the call to break India’s world record rushed early to the planting site on the historic TreeVolution day, Sept. 26, 2014.
Driven by one goal, to break the Guinness World Record of having the most trees planted simultaneously in multiple locations held by India, people from all walks of life joined hands together under the scorching heat of the sun to plant mangrove propagules and rubber seedlings in designated planting sites of the province.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dante A. Oporto of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Sibugay said the response was overwhelming and there were more planters than the targeted number.
The quota of 20,000 mangrove propagules was overshot in Barangay Baluran, Tungawan town. According to PENRO Oporto, the number of planters registered reached more than 400, hence, additional mangrove propagules were added.
Planters swam the above waistline water in order to plant their share of 50 propagules in mangrove areas.
“For the province of Sibugay, total area planted was 81.2 hectares with 2627 planters and 95,653 seedlings and propagules planted in upland and mangrove areas,” PENRO Oporto said.
The 102nd “Igsoon” Brigade, 44th Infantry Battalion, 6th Special Forces Battalion of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, academe, national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples’ organizations and local government units (LGUs) participated during the 1-hour activity for the environment.
To date, over 3 million trees have been recorded as planted in Mindanao but results are yet unofficial and will still be validated.
