RAFI Mobilizes ‘Planting Coaches’

Survival of trees partly depend on how well they are planted.  Survival rate indicates how many of the seedlings planted survived and  are thriving on their way to become full blown trees.
It is with this mindset that the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI)  GREENIN Philippines Program organized a pool of volunteers who will  serve as planting coaches in this year’s Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN  Philippines on June 29.

The planting coaches will be stationed in the central event in Naga  City, Cebu.

A planting coach will guide runners/planters in ensuring that  seedlings are properly planted on the ground.

The seedlings must be buried with enough depth and covered with  enough compactness of soil.  Most seedlings are grown on plastic pots  before they are transplanted to the ground. Care in separating the  saplings from the plastics must be observed to protect the fragile  roots.

The coaches will also do a clean up on their assigned areas after  planting to make sure that no plastic bags are indiscriminately lying  about.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, which was convened  in 2011 by the  RAFI GREENIN Philippines Program and partners, will be simultaneously  held in 43 component local government units throughout the province.

This year, Naga City and Cordova will host the central events in  support of the ridge (Naga City) to reef (Cordova) perspective in  biodiversity enhancement that takes into account enhancing not only  upland vegetation but also coastal areas.

Other local government units participating in the event include  Talisay City, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Carcar City, and Sibonga ib  the first district; Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob,  Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Sibonga, Badian, Alegria, Moalboal,  Ronda, malabuyoc, and Alcantra in the second district; Asturias,  Tuburan, Balamban, and Barili in the third district; Medellin, Bogo  City. Bantayan, Tabogon, Madridejos, and Tabuelan in the fourth  district; Liloan, Sogod, Carmen, San Francisco, Borbon, Catmon,  Compostela, and Danao City in the fifth district, and Consolacion in  the sixth district.

Interested individuals may coordinate with their respective  municipalities. Those from Cebu City can register either in Naga City  or Cordova.

In Naga City, participants may contact Boy Hilado of the City  Environment and Natural Resources Office at 489-8989.

Participants in  the Cordova run, may contact Joy Baguio of the  Department of Agriculture at 236-3812 or Lily Ator of the Office of  Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator at 236-4194.

The free running and plating event is in line with the national  government?s National Greening Program (NGP) and tied to the DILG?s  Billion Trees Program under NGP.

It is held annually every last Saturday of June in celebration of the  Environmental Month.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, one of the components of GREENIN  Philippines program, is a fun run and planting activity that provides  a venue for every Filipino to contribute in rehabilitating and  protecting our environment. It aims to expand the forest cover of the  country.

The event is designed to promote healthy lifestyle by running and  environment conservation by planting native tree species that will  become vibrant forests in the next few years.

GREENIN Philippines Program, which stands for Generation REdemption  and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines  Program, is one of the programs under RAFI’s Integrated Development  focus area. It aims to replicate best practices in environmental  protection, conservation, and rehabilitation to more places in the  country for a greener Philippines.

GREENIN Philippines Program is a program under the Integrated  Development focus area of RAFI, addressing the foundations needed to  develop successful communities. Its other focus areas include  Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, Leadership &  Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about the GREENIN Philippines Program, please  contact 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for Noel Fornolles, or visit
www.rafi.org.ph/greenin-philippines or  www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph,  or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter.