Run 2 Plant: Now on its Fifth Run

The local government units (LGUs) of Cebu is directed to organize their own “Run 2 Plant for Future Generation” by Governor Hilario Davide III this coming June 27.

Run 2 Plant is a tree and mangrove planting event led by RAFI in partnership with the Cebu provincial government and the local government units of Cebu. It is held annually every last Saturday of June in celebration of the Philippine Environmental Month.

For this year’s Run 2 Plant event, 44 municipalities and 6 component cities are expected to plant trees in their respective jurisdictions in contribution to the event. The main event will be apprehended in the watershed area of Jaclupan, Talisay City.

Jaclupan is significant since a dam (named after the place) that supplies water to Metro Cebu Water District, is now getting less and less water supply due to a dry spell.

“What happened is, a specific place won’t get enough water if there are no trees planted on it since trees could help absorbed waters from the rain,” Marge Gravador said.

Last June 16, 2015, a press conference held at RAFI-Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, together with Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Czareem Joseph Estella and representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), discussed the estimated 100,000 participants from the different government agencies in and local government units of Cebu in an effort to help restore Cebu’s forest cover and help lessen the effects of climate change.

“We are willing to help RAFI for this event. Actually, we almost have provided 2,000 pit bottles that can be used for the tree planting event,” said Rium Sespense of DepEd.

“One of the problems that this event faces is that sometimes people tend to tether their goats and cows in the area where trees are planted, that results to the destructions of plants. This event cannot be successful without the help of everyone. Each of us must give an effort because this is not only for our generation today, but this is also for the good of the following generations,” Sespense added.

Now on its fifth run, the event is also simultaneously held in some provinces in Mindanao.

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

The aim of this event is to expand the forest cover of the country and to promote healthy lifestyle through running, and encourage environmental protection practices, conservation and rehabilitation through planting native trees in which, it will help our country for a greener Philippines.

For more inquiries, you can visit www.rafi.org.ph