DUMAGUETE CITY -- The largest forest restoration project in Negros Oriental, known as the 10 Million Trees in 10 Years for a Greener Negros Movement, or simply 10M in 10, has planted more than six million seedlings in just three years, way ahead of its goal.
The group disclosed this on Wednesday, as it celebrated its third year, in a simple program at the ballroom of the Perpetual Help Community Cooperative, Inc. (PHCCI) in this city.
Presenting the monitoring and evaluation updates on the project during the event, Francis R. Dilig, management officer of the 10M in 10, said a total of 6,220,851 seedlings have so far been planted by the movement's more than 150 partners from Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.
This, he said, was done through 145 planting activities island-wide since the start of the movement.
The 10M in 10 movement was conceptualized by geothermal power leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) with partner government agencies, non-government organizations, and civil society organizations.
The private sector-led movement aims to bring in more partners to achieve its goal within its set 10-year period.
“Although we would like to think we're the lead proponent of 10M in 10, we are only one of its partners,” said Vicente Omandam Jr., senior manager and head of EDC's Reservoir and Project Management Division.
“We found it fitting to celebrate 10M in 10’s annual milestones on this date, as Dec. 12 also marks the adoption of the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change last 2015, which unites all nations in an effort to combat the effects of climate change,” Omandam said.
He said 10M in 10 is “envisioned to be the first and biggest private sector-led forest restoration movement in one island, to be participated in by as many people and entities working together.”
He recalled that the project is an offshoot of the success of EDC’s Binhi Program, a flagship program of the company that also focuses on forest restoration and where it had “successfully planted and grew 4.6 million seedlings in 6,671 hectares of forestlands all over the country.”
Adopting the theme “Synergy and Growth” on its third year, the movement “aims to unite, inspire, and encourage people to plant, grow, and protect 10 million trees in 10 years to re-green Negros Island.”
Angelina P. Galang, president of the Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment, and Sustainable Economy, echoed the call during the program.
“The cooperation of many sectors, and being a big community, who can pursue sustainable development," she said, would make the project succeed.
“The Lord has given Negros and the Philippines a lot of blessings, and Negros is using these blessings to improve the lot of the people economically and socially while preserving the environment,” she underscored.
Galang also expressed belief that Negros can be a “showcase” for a sustainable greening program.
The highlight of the celebration was the recognition of the 10M in 10 partners, who planted more than 10,000 trees this year.
These are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-CENRO Dumaguete City, DENR-CENRO Cadiz City, DENR-CENRO Tanjay City, Mangroves Sea Grasses Vital Synergy, Cartronix and Logistics Transport Corp., New Bian Yek Commercial Inc., Protected Area Rangers of Tanjay City, Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), National Irrigation Administration - Negros Occidental Irrigation Management Office, DepEd Division of Bago City, Department of Agriculture - Local Government of Valencia, City Environment Management Office - San Carlos City, and the Municipality of Hinoba-an.
The individual and institutional partners, who were able to maintain at least 85 percent survival rate of their planted trees, were also recognized. They were: Rene “Eti” Vendiola, Eduardo Baptista, Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), Barangay Unit of Atipuluan and ENRO Bago City, Negros Oriental State University, St. Paul University – Dumaguete, Municipal Agriculture Office of Sibulan, DENR-CENRO Cadiz City, Barangay Unit of Pahanocoy, Dumaguete City Water District, DENR-CENRO Sipalay, DENR-CENRO Tanjay, Tanjay Protected Area Rangers, and Mosser Environment Corporation.
Special awards were also given to the municipality of Hinoba-an for the most number of collected seeds and wildlings during the 10M in 10 Earth Day Celebration, while the DENR - CENRO Dumaguete City and BACIWA were recognized for planting more than 10,000 native seedlings.
The group capped its celebration by planting an almaciga tree (Agathis philippinensis) at the PHCCI grounds. (PNA)
