Physicians, Fisherfolk And Students Planted Over 1,500 Mangrove Seedlings In Aurora

Physicians, fisherfolk, students and personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) planted on Sunday more than 1,500 mangrove seedlings to allow more species — from starfish to monkey — to thrive along the coastlines of the fish port in Sitio Zabali in this capital town of Aurora.

The activity is part of the climate change caravan, a quarterly activity of the Philippine College of Physicians Foundation (PCPF) headed by Dr. Jonathan Moises Jadloc.

Jadloc, chairman of PCPF climate change committee, urged the participants to love nature as a way to sustain good health and help increase food production .

He said that protecting nature will provide food, medicine, wood products, among others, adding that a clean air for the community will help prevent climate change and global warming.

Jadloc said that since September 2015, the PCPF has been doing climate lectures which started in Tacloban City, Leyte, to DOST-Philippine Science High School scholars, college students, medical students, residents, consultants, church gatherings, and even radio talks.

“We have treevolutions in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte. With the cooperation from other stakeholders, we have planted 10,000 trees in partnership with DENR,” he said.

Jadloc is also lobbying for House Bill No. 4981, which seeks to declare the “National Day of Rising,” a day where students plant trees and receive climate education.

He also announced that on Nov. 8, this year, they will lead the country’s doctors for a nationwide simultaneous tree growing activity and push for a Guinness World of Records.

“Climate change mitigation approaches and strategies involve some categories as global and political, national and personal,” he said.

He also discussed approaches to reduce global warming.

Prior to the mangrove seedlings planting, the group prayed, signed and pledged their commitment to educate people on biodiversity preservation, reduction in the consumption of resources, decrease in carbon emissions, science of global warming and climate change.

They are now committed to plant trees during their birthdays, promising themselves to support reforestation programs of private organizations and the government to enhance absorption of greenhouse gases to reduce global temperatures.

The group will also support and push legislation to generate participation of the majority in preserving the environment, and support programs to ease the impact of disasters among local constituents.

With the mandate to act as good stewards of the earth, they bind themselves to the said obligation as one nation, one action.

Relative to this, Pedro A. Romantico, chairman of the Kalipunan ng mga Mangingisda sa Dagat ng Baler-Aurora (KALMADABA), said they will help the PCPF to protect what they planted.

Anthony Bolivar, director of the Engineering Department of the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), as well as the students also manifested their support and willingness to do the same in protecting nature.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) is an umbrella organization, formed in 1952, of internists in the Philippines. It was founded by Dr. Gonzalo F. Austria.

Their mission and vision are directed to open up avenues and to provide excellent internal medicine practice and to be responsive to the needs of the environment.

“This is the heartbeat of the committee,” Jadloc said. (PNA) SCS/ZST/JDA/PS