Aboitiz foundation launches running, tree planting event

Monday, May 2, 2011

CEBU CITY -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (Rafi), in collaboration with different private and government institutions, launched Monday the "Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines" at the Casino Español de Cebu.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is a running and planting event that will be held on June 25. It aims to plant and maintain 100,000 native tree seedlings all over Cebu in just one day.

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Rafi, in a press conference Monday, said the event will be held simultaneously in the 51 municipalities and component cities in Cebu, in commemoration of the Philippine Environment Month.

The running activity -- featuring 3K (kilometers), 5K and 8K distances -- will start at the Lucita-Vista Grande-Pacific Heights Junction, East Visayan Academy grounds, and Talisay City Hall, respectively.

Participants will plant the native tree seedlings when they reach the five-hectare forestland in Barangay Jaclupan in Talisay City, near the Jaclupan weir and within the 90-hectare Mananga Watershed.

Rafi Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua monitoring activities will be done in areas where the seedlings are planted, ensuring that these plants will grow to fully-developed trees.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the success will be measured depending on how many saplings will grow to trees, unlike the former tree-planting activities that only measure the number of trees planted.

The program will use native trees, including cinnamon and bitanghol, to help expand the number of trees and habitat for animals.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Visayas Director Maximo Dichoso said there is a sustainable amount of percentage of forest areas covered by forest species, and the choice of native trees than imported ones are of advantage, as the native plants adapt better with the soil and it will be a better agent against soil erosion.

GREENIN Philippines, which stands for Generation, Redemption and Expansion of Natural Resources Initiatives in the Philippines, 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 lodges under the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGWEN), a provincial program that aims to make Cebu Province an ideal place to live, work, play, invest, and do business in.

The panelists in Monday's press conference shoved the issues of political critics, saying this is time for work and there should be harmony between different sectors and the local government for projects to succeed.

Rafi President Roberto Aboitiz asked for the support of all the sectors, including the media, for the project to succeed.

Rafi also aims for the program's expansion, as different collaborators are starting their campaign of the program outside Cebu.

Interested participants from 15 to 60 years old and with good health conditions can join the running event, which also starts the beginning of the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) in Cebu.

The NGP, from the Executive Order 26 of President Benigno Aquino III, aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of denuded forest within five years.

Registration forms are available at the Rafi Main Office, or in designated areas and partner institutions that will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is free.

There will also be an online registration at Rasfi's official site, which is open 24 hours. (Jet de Guzman, Ateneo de Zamboanga University intern/Sunnex)