VOLUNTEERS, people’s organization representatives and local government officials peel the seeding bags and planted the first of 50,000 native and endemic trees for the three-year One for Trees (OFT) Project of One Meralco Foundation, Bohol and an NGO partnering with people’s organizations in Pilar, beside the scenic Malinaw Dam here in Poblacion Pilar, September 22.
A part of the corporate social responsibility of One Meralco Foundation, the OFT finds an implementing non-government organization in Participatory Research Organization of Communities for Education in the Struggle for Self-reliance (PROCESS Bohol) who also partnered with 7 peoples’ organizations in Pilar to get the tree-planting and forest rehabilitation program rolling.
Pilar Mayor Engr. Wilson Pajo, Ubay mayor Constantino Reyes represented by Mario Limocon, Pilar Sangguniang Bayan members, PROCESS Bohol staff led by Aurelio Salgados Jr., Department of Environment and Natural Resources from Cenro Talibon and Tagbilaran as well as national government representatives with Bohol Provincial Environment and Management Office representative Restituto Piollio Jr and staff rolled their sleeves and clawed the damp soil to finally plant endemic tree species, also in contribution to the ongoing Bohol Tree Growing Project that aims to recover Bohol’s lost forest cover in the last decades.
We have supplied the seedlings: all endemic trees native to the region, all grown at the Bohol Biodiversity Complex in Bilar, said Piollio, who take care of the Bohol end of the partnership to regain the forest cover.
Bohol Biodiversity Complex has since existed after the Bohol Environmental Code of 1998 placed it, to help protect and conserve Bohol’s different flora and fauna, particularly its endemic tree species and nurtures various endemic tree seedlings, including dipterocarps that towered in Bohol forests in the past.
Set to repopulate the ridges of Carood watershed and bring back the life that sustained the mighty Wahig Pamacsalan, seven peoples and farmers organizations in Pilar are set to determine the future of the upcoming 1,275 farmers and 18 organizations to implement the next phase of the project, Salgados said.
Also implemented in areas where the DENR’s Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management Project were laid, PROCESS will work with Lundag ESKAYA Tribe Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Nagkahuisang Mag-uuma sa San Vicente Association, Ilaud Vegetable Growers Association.
Bayong Farmers Association, Bagacay Water Users Association, Barangay Cansungay Farmer’s Association and Pamacsalan Tree Growers Association in its OFT -Watershed Improved for Sustainable Environment.
Soon, another 50,000 mangroves would be planted as Carood Watershed’s coastal protection for 5 of Bohol’s north east towns like the mangrove planting and rehabilitation.
This is science based mangrove planting and we are adopting pagatpat and bungalon, or the big mangrove trees that offer the best protection for Bohol’s storm-visited coastal communities, according to Salgados.
To implement this are Cagting Small Farmers and Fisherfolks Association and the Guintaboan Fisherfolk Association, in Ubay.
Also engaged in the mangrove planting are the people’s organizations of Delmar Fishermen Association and Puntod Dako MPA Management Council in Mabini, Panaghiusang Mananagat Cogtonganon, Cogtong Active Fisherfolk Association and Pangpang, Cambuyao, Panas Fishermen Association of Candijay.
Setting up the same activity in Anda are Talisay Fishermen’s Association, Badiang Fishermen Association and Suba Fishermen Association and the Kapungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mananagat sa Popoo of President Carlos P. Garcia.
What is important is that the trees are not just planted, it has to be alive and grow, reminds Tarayao, whose foundation is doing the activity as a corporate social responsibility, which also include School Electrifications Programs in Bohol’s island barangays.
One Meralco Foundation funds for the 100,000 trees planted and surviving in Bohol as part of their 5 million trees project that they are implementing in the country. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
