Sogod joins province-wide environment run

CEBU, Philippines - On a sloping terrain of Sogod’s Sitio Camalig in Barangay Takay, 3, 240 native tree seedlings were planted by 768 volunteers during the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines last June 30.

True to the event’s aim of not only planting seedlings but also growing forests, the municipal agriculture office monitors the planting site and the lot owner assists in its maintenance and protection through a memorandum of agreement with the barangay council of Takay.

 The tree nurseries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Municipality of Sogod, and Barangay Takay were the sources of the native tree seedlings.

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.   (FREEMAN)