Marinduque Provincial Environment and National Resources Office (PENRO), in cooperation with AgreaPH, MACEC, Marinduque LGUs and other organizations, gathered together in the observance of Philippine National Arbor Day 2016. More than 400 native talisay seedlings were planted in a PENRO-designated coastal area in Barangay Libtangin, Municipality of Gasan.
AGREA gathered twenty student leaders and community-based youth volunteers to help transplant indigenous talisay trees in the early morning of Saturday, 25 June 2016.
“We are planting trees in coastal areas as a risk management measure against storm surges. With proper care, these trees will grow and help us in the future,” says Fred Constantino, a forester and official from the Marinduque PENRO.
AGREA has been working with PENRO since 2015 in planting as many trees as possible in areas where they are needed the most. Last December 2015, AGREA brought young business leaders from New Zealand to Marinduque and helped transplant more than 200 mangrove seedlings in a former fishing ground in Brgy. Tamayo, Sta. Cruz. Together with local farmers, the same group of volunteers transplanted at least a hundred native cocoa seedlings in Brgy. Duyay, Boac.
“Planting indigenous trees is a duty that all able-bodied Filipinos must participate into, not only during National Arbor Day, but whole year round. AGREA strongly supports environmental protection activities such as this,” says Rafael Seño, AGREA’s Director of Rapport and Communications.
This indigenous trees planting activity is only one in a series of tree planting activities to be done and hosted by AGREA in Marinduque this year. Next in line are the fruit-bearing trees planting activity in Brgy. Cawit, Boac and the Adopt a Tree at Home Project. – Marinduquenews.com