DENR-ARMM mobilizes LGU's on World Guiness record on most planted trees in an hour

By Ferdinandh Cabrera

August 24, 2013

File Photo: ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadu during a tree planting event in coastal part of Parang, Maguindanao

Cotabato City--- Despite the lack to time and logistic preparations, still the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in ARMM together with its partners will be joining the challenge into setting a world record, mobilizing now the participation of Local Government Units (LGU’s).

Dubbed as “TreeVolution: Greening MindaNOW”, brokered by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), they aim to beat India as the present world record holder of 1.94 million trees planted (by 340,200 people across 408 locations) in just an hour  in 2011.

On September 26^th, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) together with its partner agencies in the government and private sector aims to plant 4,636,000 trees in multiple locations covering a total of 9,200 hectares in just one hour.

DENR-ARMM which has a decade-long partnership with Balik-Kalisakasan Advocacy Group (BKAG), a private and government organization, with the full support of 6^th division are coordinating widely now to local government units in Central Mindanao.

A meeting on September 3 is set in Camp Siongco, 6^th Division Camp in Datu Odin Sinsuat as part of grand preparation which seeks to convince Maguindanao LGU’s on the initiative that supports the National Greening Program aimed to harmonize the management of Mindanao’s natural resources.

“The meeting will identify the present land areas and locations the LGU’s and private sectors would suggest and that we will know also how many will be joining us”, DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag said.

 “We will be trying our very best to catch up with the Guinness requirement but nevertheless our intention and dedication that day is to greening the Mother Nature”, 6th Division Deputy Commander, Brig. Noli Orense also said.

Kedtag added they had enough seeds prepared in their nursery.That excludes the available 400,000 seedlings from Minrico compound nursery of BKAG, now ready for planting.

These seedlings are composed of Lanipao and Antipolo plants endemic in Maguindanao  is freely given to those groups and private individuals who are willing to plant trees.

The ARMM leadership has expressed oneness in this campaign as seen in the Facebook advisory of ARMM executive secretary Atty. Alaisa Alamia, “4 million trees on September 26 through the "TreeVolution: Greening MindaNOW." Join us!”, she posted.

Maguindanao province has also expressed to take part on this initiative, Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said among plants they will plant are rubber trees, palm oils and bamboos.

“These plants has multi- purpose, aside from helping greening the environment these will give livelihood income in the future and will serve flood mitigating trees in waterways of Liguasan marsh”, he said.#End.