Thousands turn up to run, plant trees

By Bernadette A. Parco
Sunday, June 26, 2011

CEBU CITY – In contrast to reports of heavy rains and floods in many parts of the country, sunny weather favored Cebu-based environment enthusiasts and local officials who joined a massive reforestation project.

About 8,000 people trekked to Talisay City to join the regional launch of the National Greening Program (NGP), which aims to plant seedlings of agroforestry, native and indigenous species in forestlands and denuded areas, as part of coping with the effects of climate change.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez pointed out the unusual weather changes in various parts of the country and recent natural disasters.

“We recently had typhoons Egay and Falcon in the north,” he added.
The fine weather here, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said, “is a sign from the heavens.” She thanked the participants for making a difference in planting at least one seedling.

“You will have staked your claim and you will have staked your commitment to protect Mother Earth and to thank Señor Sto. Niño for continually blessing us, sparing us from the climate change that is wreaking havoc, as we speak, throughout certain parts of the country,” she said.

Climate change, attributed mainly to human activities that cause greenhouse gases to accumulate in the atmosphere, has caused temperature changes, storm surges and sea level rise.

Present during the event were Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district), Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Negros Oriental Gov. Ruel Degamo, Provincial Board Members Julian Daan, Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Joven Mondigo and Thadeo Ouano.

Also present were government agency officials including Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso and Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Engineer Armando Paredes.

From the gate of Vista Grande, students from Talisay City College and University of San Jose Recoletos walked the five kilometers of paved uphill and downhill stretch to the stage where the program was held.
Along the route, there were water stations set up by MCWD.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 people turned up for the activities. They surpassed the target of 5,000 participants, said Rowena Bandola-Alensonorin, Integrated Development Unit executive director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi).

She said the manual and online registration reached 4,000 but marshals along the route noted that many participants registered Saturday.

The tree-planting activity was conducted within a 30-hectare forestland in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, which forms part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

The protected area was created under Republic Act 9486, crafted by Gullas, who was present during the event dubbed as the “Run to Plant for Greening Philippines.”

“The CCPL was created to preserve water for Cebuanos for generations to come,” he said. “I hope that after our planting, care must be effected.”

Greening Philippines, a program of Rafi, seeks to develop, protect, enhance and co-manage denuded forestlands, brush lands, and degraded residual natural forests by planting native tree species.
The program also forms part of the NGP that was created under Executive Order (EO) 26, issued by President Benigno Aquino III on Feb. 24, 2011.

The NGP intends to plant 1.5 billion seedlings in 1.5 million hectares of public lands nationwide in six years, from 2011 to 2016.

The program is a government priority to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability and biodiversity conservation; and enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“This activity (today) will be echoed and re-echoed by each of the 44 towns and seven cities, in order to make and even to surpass the 100,000 trees to be planted today,” Governor Garcia added.

The Provincial Government has also issued an executive order that Rafi’s Greening Philippines program be made part of the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (E-Gwen) project that rates towns and cities on cleanliness, health and sanitation, among others.

Dominica Chua, Rafi chief operating officer, said the private organization has allotted five million seedlings for planting in 2,900 hectares in various towns in Cebu Province.

The foundation’s tree planting program supports efforts to restore the ecosystem of the province. Tree survival will be monitored in collaboration with DENR, local government units, partners and volunteers. (Sun.Star Cebu)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 26, 2011.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2011/06/26/thousands-turn-run-plant-trees-163255

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Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

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Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

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YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

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