ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — Over 1,000 individuals, including students, government employees, and private sector representatives, participated in the Tree Hugging Campaign organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Valentine’s Day in this city and in the municipalities of Linamin, Kauswagan, and Maigo, Lanao del Norte.
Lanao del Norte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arnulfo Osio expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasized the collective efforts of the community in showing love for trees, plants, and Mother Earth.
“Hopefully, ‘yung pagha-hug ng kahoy ay hindi lang basta celebrating the hugging of trees during the Valentine’s period, but also about hugging a tree where you have to feel the love of the trees, taking care of them para dumami ‘yung kahoy na siyang nagbibigay ng hangin na ginagamit din ng tao. Siya rin ang nagca-capture ng toxic air gases like carbon dioxide na kino-convert niya into oxygen na ginagamit ng tao,” he said.
(Hopefully, tree hugging is not just about celebrating the act of hugging trees during the Valentine’s period but also about truly embracing a tree, feeling its love, and taking care of it so that more trees can grow, providing the air that people breathe. Trees also capture toxic air gases like carbon dioxide and convert them into oxygen for humans to use.)
Osio highlighted the importance of planting native species, which are diminishing due to the introduction of fast-growing but non-native species.
Meanwhile, Saiben Mampao, OIC of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Iligan, highlighted that the campaign aimed to promote love and appreciation for the environment.
“It is time for us to give thanks to the environment, especially trees. We invited various agencies to participate in the tree-hugging campaign. There were over 1,000 participants, especially students. We want the young ones to appreciate the environment and understand the importance of trees, not just for their economic value but also for their environmental significance. Trees serve as a home for wildlife species and provide protection against environmental hazards,” he said.
Participants included representatives from various corporations like National Power Corporation (NPC)- Mindanao Generation, Helix Resources and Development Corporation, Pilmico Foods Corporation, Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation, Mamsar Construction and Industrial Corporation, GNPower Kauswagan Ltd., Mapalad Power Corporation.
From different schools, namely, Suarez Central School, Suarez National High School, Maigo Central School, Mindanao State University-Maigo School of Arts and Trades, Liangan East National High School, Samburon Integrated School, St. Vincent’s Academy, Kawit Occidental Elementary School, Kauswagan Central Elementary School, and Tacub Elementary School; and other stakeholders like the Iligan City Environment and Management Office, Bantay Dagat, 5th Mech. Infantry (Kaagapay) Battalion, Philippine Information Agency, and Radyo Pilipinas.
Sunny Minaga, acting section chief of NPC-Mindanao Generation’s Watershed Management Division, emphasized the importance of sustaining their 20-year-old, 6-to-10-hectare plantation, which serves as a source of wild dipterocarp seedlings for both Lanao provinces.
“We see to it that the plantation will be sustained, and time will come na ito ang magiging source ng wild seedlings ng dipterocarp in both Lanao provinces. That is why NPC partnered with DENR—this plantation will be a source. When Mother Earth gets angry, sino ang kakampi natin? Ito lang, trees will protect us,” he said.
(We see to it that this will be sustained, and the time will come when this will become a source of wild dipterocarp seedlings for both Lanao provinces. That is why NPC partnered with DENR; this plantation will serve as a source. When Mother Earth gets angry, who will stand with us? Only trees will protect us.)
He added that He stated that they are currently implementing dipterocarp species or tropical hardwood trees in their watershed and discouraged fast-growing trees to help restore native tree species. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
