Photo by Michael Camsa/BIO
COTABATO CITY–The Bangsamoro Government through the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) launched on Wednesday, Jan. 25, an integrated greening program that targeted urban areas, which was piloted within the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) in this city.
Dubbed as ‘BUFFER’ or Bangsamoro Urban Forest for Ecological Reforestation, the activity targets to grow trees within BGC to promote urban mini-forest and increase attraction for the Bangsamoro seat of the regional government.
“It has been the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that the Bangsamoro environment is protected and conserved, that our natural and energy resources are sustainably managed and developed,” MENRE Minister Akmad Brahim said.
“Through Integrated Bangsamoro Greening Program, we aim that the massive reforestation will be another strategy toward climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction adaptation in the BARMM,” Brahim said.
“We envision a government center that is eco-friendlier and more pleasing to the eyes of the employees and visitors. We also hope this will install living legacies of different heads and officials, and may we instill in our hearts the value of love for our environment and promote collective environmental action as we pursue just and lasting peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said the tree planting activity is part of promoting urbanized redemption of the integrated Bangsamoro greening program.
“One of the greatest challenges not only here but also globally is climate change. We have experienced recently Typhoon Paeng which inflicted hundreds of casualties,”
“This simple activity is not only symbolic but also a significant trait for the Bangsamoro in making sure that the environment is well taken care of. This is a move for us to achieve one of our 12-point priority agenda which is a Bangsamoro that is disaster resilient and adaptive to climate change,” the chief minister added.
“We started in our area to show that we are serious in effort and it will also benefit our compound,” the Chief Minister said, while encouraging other ministries and Members of Parliament to follow suit. (Majid Nur/BIO)
