A TOTAL of 3,500 seedlings were planted in this year’ s group-wide simultaneous tree-planting activity last July 13 in Barangay Guilang-Guilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
The annual activity gathered almost a hundred volunteers from several groups such as the community of Barangay Guilang-Guilang headed by its chairwoman Mariloi Jumawan, the media people from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippine Information Agency in Bukidnon, Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. headed by the Operations Supervisor Jude Balatero and Maintenance Manager Dennis Miranda, Cenro Manolo Fortich, Union Bank of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Branch, among others.
“Sustainability namo ni siya nga initiative. Aboitiz-wide initiative namo nga every year, naay usa ka area nga among i-rehabilitate sa pagtanom, pag-invite og volunteers,” Daryl Diestro, Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. Environmental Management specialist, said.
The participants planted a mix of narra, falcata and durian seedlings at the four-hectare land in Barangay Guilang-Guilang.
“As to sustainability, dapat endemic ang atong itanom, mao tong naay narra. Agroforestry man pud ang atong birada tungod ang land owner gusto man pud dili lang kay kahoy. Agroforestry nga part, gipatanom siya og falcata para through the years, naay ma-harvest. Isa pud dadto nga i-consider ang 500 ka durian as special request sa land owner nga tagaan og fruit-bearing trees,” Diestro said.
Barangay Chairwoman Jumawan, on her part, expressed her gratitude to the Aboitiz Foundation that the tree planting activity was held in their barangay.
“Dako gyud among kalipay nga diri na held ang simultaneous tree planting. Tree growing gyud dapat di lang tree planting. Kinahanglan magtanom gyud og kahoy para sa safety sa million people. Daghan gyung salamat sa Aboitiz Foundation para sa ilang mga tabang sa Barangay Guilang-Guilang,” Jumawan said.
The Aboitiz group has recorded a total of 500,000 seedlings planted in the Mindanao region.