DepEd 7, RAFI to Help Restore Cebu’s Forest Cover

The Department of Education (DepEd) 7 and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) ink partnership that aims to restore the forest cover in Cebu.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing and launching was held at the DepEd Cebu Division office conference hall.

Present during the MOA signing is the School Division Superintendent Dr. Rhea Mar A. Angtud, Ms. Margaret Ann Gravador – Exec. Director Integrated Development Unit of RAFI, and Mr. Noel Fornolles – GREENIN Coordinator of RAFI.

(L-R) Mr. Reum P. Seneñe, Ms. Margaret Ann Gravador, Dr. Rhea Mar A. Angtud, and Mr. Noel Fornolles

Under the agreement, DepEd-Cebu City’s 16 local districts, with the help of the respective Parents and Teachers Associations, will identify planting sites within or in the vicinity of the local schools as seed orchard, specimen areas, production and/or protection forest or a combination of viable tree growing production system.

DepEd would also coordinate with the City Government in crafting related ordinance or laws on tree growing initiatives to “broaden public support or provide incentives for seed orchard growers, specimen establishment, production, and/or protection forest.”

Another DepEd task stipulated in the the agreement is to implement the National Tree Planting Program through the Edukasyong Pangtahanan Pangkabuhayan (EPP) and Technology Livelihood Education (TLE) curriculums in all public elementary and high schools in Cebu City and other sites in the province of Cebu.

Forester Noel Fornolles, RAFI Generation, Redemption and Expansion of Natural Resources Initiatives in the Philippines (GREENIN Philippines) program coordinator, said this would pave the way for both DepEd’s City and Province divisions to work together in the pursuit of the education department’s Environmental Protection Program, which is in support of the National Greening Program in the Philippines.

Mr. Noel Fornolles facilitated the use of plastic bottles as alternative pots.

Cebu City lacks the land for planting sites, hence, DepEd-Cebu City will complement efforts of DepEd-Cebu Province by providing logistical support, particularly by recycling empty bottles to serve as plastic pots on a “student to student sponsorship,” or that a student in Cebu City would make 10 pots and another 10 pots for a Cebu Province student, who would plant 20 trees (instead of 10) using the pots provided by the Cebu City student.

RAFI, on the other hand, would conduct priority listing of schools as beneficiary of the project; train DepED-Cebu City’s Edukasyong Pangtahanan Pangkabuhayan (EPP) and Technology Livelihood Education (TLE) coordinates and other tree growing focal persons; provide the indigenous or native tree seedlings; and give technical assistance and guidance in the proper raising and growing of the trees, maintenance, and other concerns related to native tree plantation management.

RAFI, through its Integrated Development Unit (IDU), currently has 267 native trees species.

During her speech, Dr. Rhea Mar A. Angtud said they are conducting the program for so long and they’ve come to the point of planting various kinds of trees.

“At this point, they really need the partnership (with RAFI).…sharing those trees with us is really helpful for the greening program of the Division of Cebu, ” she said.

The purpose of the partnership is to support DepED’s greening efforts and advance RAFI GREENIN Philippines program, which aims to provide effective ways to arrest degradation of forest and make the Philippines greener and healthier.

Photo above: A district representative signing the tarp as a sign of gratitude and participation.