Doctors Wage “Treevolution” in Memoriam for Yolanda Victims

Up to 4,000 mangrove trees will be planted on November 8 along the coastline of Brgy. 88 (San Jose), the Ground ZERO of the 20-feet storm surge that wiped out the communities when supertyphoon Yolanda struck last year.

Called Treevolution, the members of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) in Eastern Visayas chose mangrove planting as their way of remembering those who perished in the typhoon while doing concrete actions to mitigate, if not prevent the impact of climate change through sustainable programs.

The two-hectare coastal stretch of this barangay in Tacloban City, also known as Fisherman’s Village, is situated near the airport and is surrounded by bodies of sea water. This left the communities completely vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, rising water, and other hazards brought by storms and other calamities.

“We need to enhance our defense from the deadly impact of extreme weather conditions that render our people hostage to massive flooding, landslides, damages to crops and properties and worse, led to helpless dead bodies lying in devastation. We can’t be sitting ducks. We need to move and find long-term solutions,” said PCP President Dr. Anthony Leachon.

The PCP proposed to Congress and the Executive the project, Day of Rising on November 8 featuring simultaneous planting of trees to symbolize the Filipinos’ resolve to reduce the impact of climate change on the people and their livelihood.

The Senate has passed the Resolution of Sen. Grace Poe about this project in September and the House of Representatives passed its own Resolution, courtesy of Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon.

Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma has indicated that the Palace will support this great environment advocacy through an Administrative Order aligned with the private sector ‘s initiative.

“The tree planting ceremonies at the Fisherman’s Village in San Jose, Tacloban is our own contribution to the recovery efforts and building back better communities that are resilient and safe from extreme weather conditions caused by worsening climate change,” said Dr. Jay Jadloc, President of PCP Eastern Visayas chapter.

Jadloc estimated around 100 to 200 families were comfortably living in this barangay when Yolanda hit them last year.

The people will join the mangrove planting along with Father Bryan Murillo who will officiate the holy mass in the Barangay Hall of the Fisherman’s Village at 6:00 in the morning to start off the event. Father Murillo will also bless the seedlings that will be planted along the coast.

Antonio Genoguin, Jr., Coordinator of the National Greening Program, City Environmental Office in Palo, Leyte will give orientation on how to plant the mangrove and the aftercare needed to ensure these effectively serve as defense mechanism against the impact of strong typhoons and storm surges.

For coastal communities like Barangay San Jose, mangroves reduce the impacts of tsunamis, storms and storm surges. Sustaining and restoring wetlands is a cost-effective strategy for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and will contribute to poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. (PCP)

Source: PIA

Image Credit: alexshaikh.co