RAFI, eGwen to plant seedlings

CEBU, Philippines - To help Talisay City's denuded forests recover, volunteers from the public and the private sectors are set to plant 100,000 seedlings there this June.

The project called "Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines" is initiated by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) with the help of Governor Gwen Garcia through her eGwen program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and various government institutions and corporate groups.

Neil Papas, program coordinator, said the project (GREENIN stands for Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines Program) "seeks to develop, protect, enhance and co-manage denuded forestlands, brush lands and degraded residual natural forests by planting native tree species."

The planting of 100,000 seedlings of native tree species is set this June 25 in commemoration of the Philippine Environment month, which is also in view of the World Environment Day celebration.

Papas said the event starts with the run and ends with planting.

RAFI has identified a 30-hectare denuded forestland in barangay Jaclupan, known to be a part of the city's watershed area, as a beneficiary of the seedlings.

Papas said the project is two-pronged: it promotes good health to the people by running on one hand, and, on the other, make participants become a part in saving the environment.

"Sustainability has always been considered under the GREENIN Philippines Program," he said.

The project however does not end there.

RAFI, the provincial Capitol's eGWEN program, and concerned local government units, the DENR and volunteers will undertake post-planting activities to "ensure" that the seedlings will grow to become a huge forest in the future.

Papas said RAFI picked Jaclupan as that denuded forestland is within the "critical" Mananga watershed, and that they shall be developed into a "forest model" through their partners.

Earlier, Garcia issued an executive order mandating the implementation and institutionalization of this project throughout Cebu.