Santa Fe unites for Mother Earth

CEBU, Philippines - Wearing green and white shirts, around 1,100 participants made an early morning run to the Santa Fe Municipal Tree Park, the planting site of the town's Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 last June 30.

A total of 1,202 fruit and native tree species were planted by the participants composed of municipal officials and employees; barangay officials, health workers, and tanods; students; personnel from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Philippine Auxiliary Coast Guard; and volunteers from the business sector.

"We really wanted to contribute to the reduction of calamities and disasters, as well as mitigate the impact of climate change by planting native tree seedlings in our municipality. We are collaborating with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Cebu Provincial Government to develop our municipal mangrove and eco-tourism park," Santa Fe Mayor Jennifer Ilustrisimo said.

The running and planting event was simultaneously held province-wide in Cebu. This year, Davao del Sur, Davao City, and Compostela Valley also organized their own Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, making these areas the first local government units outside Cebu to replicate the event.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 was organized in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Talisay City local government unit and other LGUs in Cebu, and various government and private institutions.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, one of the components of the GREENIN Philippines program, is a fun run and planting activity that provides a venue for every Filipino to contribute in rehabilitating and protecting our environment with the goal of bringing back the country's forest cover.

GREENIN Philippines Program, which stands for Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines Program, is one of the programs under RAFI's Integrated Development focus area. It aims to address environmental problems by undertaking initiatives for the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of our country's forests. RAFI's other focus areas are Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about the GREENIN Philippines Program, please contact 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for its program coordinator, Bonifacio Amper.

You may also visit the program's website at www.rafi.org.ph/greenin-philippines and Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/TreeThatBinds.

For those who are interested to join in the greening efforts of the Municipality of Santa Fe, please contact Mr. Romeo O. Pacilan at telephone number 438-9089. (FREEMAN)