Caraga stakeholders join nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY – In time with the 65th natal day of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, the different stakeholders in Caraga region, actively took their part in the conduct of Nationwide Simultaneous Tree Planting Activity in the twelve identified planting sites by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in close coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), and other agencies.
Right before the start of the tree planting activity, a short program was conducted as early as 5:30 a.m. on September 13 at the Roadside within CARBDP Flood Control Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) located at Barangays Riverside, Mahogany, Banza, and Maug, all in Butuan City, which served as the regional planting site.
Regional Executive Director Nonito Tamayo of DENR-Caraga, bared that the 12 planting sites in the region are the following: 1) Sitio Malinao, Brgy. Bonbon, Butuan City; 2) Sitio Makasihi, Brgy. Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte; 3) Roadside within CARBDP Flood Control Project of DPWH located at Brgys. Baan Riverside, Mahogany, Banza and Maug, Butuan City; 4) Brgy. Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; 5) Brgy. Pangaylan IP, Santiago, Agusan del Norte; 6) Brgy. Karaos, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; 7) Brgy. Hawilian Tree Park, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur; 8) Brgy. Sinobong, Veruela, Agusan del Sur; 9) Km. 23, Brgy. Nuevo Trabajo, San Luis, Agusan del Sur; 10) Brgy. Cagniog, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte; 11) Tinuy-an Falls Protected Landscape, Brgy. Burboanan, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; and 12) Brgy. Benglen, Basilisa, Dinagat Islands.
RED Tamayo said that this is one way also of showing support to PBBM's administration especially in its effort to intensify implementation of significant programs that protect the environment and natural resources. He reiterated the importance of practicing proper waste segregation, Reduce/Reuse/Recycle, healthy lifestyle – exercise, and initiating other related activities for the protection of the natural resources.
“For the 12 planting sites in Caraga region, we targeted some 12,000 seedlings to be planted – 1,000 seedlings per area, and we hope that the people in the community will help us in nurturing these seedlings. We have variety of seedlings prepared to include the bamboo, acacia, golden shower, seedlings belonging to endangered species like narra and among others,” added Tamayo.
Tamayo reiterated the importance of planting and nurturing trees. “Trees and shrubs improve soil and water conservation, store carbon, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate temperature extremes, increase wildlife habitat and improve the land's capacity to adapt to climate change. These are all benefits forests and shrubs offer the environment and in turn, us,” he underscored.
Also, Aurelio “Datu Malinggat” Talinong, Jr., Tribal chieftain in Sitio Malinao, Brgy. Bonbon, Butuan City, expressed his gratitude to the different concerned government agencies for collaborating with various sectors including the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) community for this activity. He emphasized the need to plant more trees not only to protect the people of today’s generation but most especially for the next to come.
The tribal chieftain also called on other tribes in the different provinces of Caraga region to continue to support the initiatives of the government in protecting the environment and in combating illegal-logging activities, and the ill-effects of climate change.
The said tree planting activity was anchored on the theme “Buhayin ang Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan.” (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
