Maguindanao (June 25, 2020)—In line with the celebration of Philippine Environment Month, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE-BARMM) conducted a simultaneous tree planting activity in all of BARMM provinces on Thursday, June 25, 2020.
The activity aimed to promote and protect the environment and instill environmental consciousness among constituents.
BARMM Executive Secretary and MENRE Minister Abdulraof Macacua led the planting activity of at least 500 mahogany seedlings at Sitio Paninggusan, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao.
“In combating climate change and preserving our region’s ecological integrity, we aim to conduct regular tree planting among other greening activities not just during this environment month but all throughout,” Macacua said.
Together with Macacua were the staff from MENRE Regional and Maguindanao office, Palaw Rangers, Provincial Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Officers (PENREOs), and Integrated Bangsamoro Greening Program (IBGP) focal persons.
Among the other seedlings and propagules planted by the PENREOs were Yakal, Narra, Mayapis, and Mangroves. The PENREOs, with the aid of Palaw Rangers, will monitor the areas to ensure long-term sustainability of the species planted.
In the Island provinces, 170 seedlings of Yakal, Narra, Mayapis, White lauaan, and Robles were planted in Basilan, while 4,000 mangrove propagules were planted in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
It can be recalled that on June 5, MENRE conducted a simultaneous public market clean-up drive in the provinces.
As per the latest data from National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), the forest cover of BARMM is 45 percent, or 299,195 hectares of the region’s total land area of 1,293,552 hectares.
This year’s Philippine Environment Month celebration carries the theme “Protect Nature, Sustain Our Future”, which is derived from the tagline for June 5’s World Environment Day, “Time for Nature”. (Bureau of Public Information)
