Run 2 Plant Expands to Mindanao

The third run of Run 2 Plant  4 GREENIN Philippines on June 29 will see the participation of more local government units (LGUs) and schools in Mindanao aside from the 40 municipalities and component cities in the province of Cebu.

Through a collaboration with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) GREENIN Philippines Program  was able to forge partnership with schools in regions outside the Visayas.

CEAP’s network of Catholic institutions provided the list of school options from which the Aboitiz Equity Ventures chose the best fit partner based on the location of a specific business unit.

Davao del Sur, Davao City, and Compostela Valley organized their own Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines in 2012, making these areas the first LGUs outside Cebu to replicate the event.

Forged through the collaboration with Holy Cross of Bansalan in Davao del Sur, the provincial government has institutionalized the province’s participation to the reforestation activity.

Other participating areas and schools in Mindanao include Nabunturan in Compostela Valley; St. Mary’s Academy in Tagum, Davao del Norte; and Sacred Heart High School in Iligan.

To ensure the growth and survival of the native trees seedlings planted during the event, RAFI will initiate monthly nurturance activities with National Greening Program (NGP) partners and GREENIN Philippines Program volunteers.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is held annually every last Saturday of June in celebration of the Environmental Month.

This event is in line with the national government’s National Greening Program (NGP) and tied to the DILG’s Billion Trees Program under NGP.

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.