MARAWI CITY (PIA) –The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Lanao del Sur is championing tree growing as a vital strategy to mitigate floods and landslides.
“The common natural hazards we experience (here in Lanao del Sur) are flooding and landslides. So, as part of our prevention and our solution strategy, we need extensive tree growing,” PDRRMO head Shaminoden Sambitory told communicators from the Bangsamoro Information Office and local media during an immersion activity on conflict and trauma reporting on July 8.
He explained the distinction between “tree planting” and “tree growing,” emphasizing that planting trees is a one-time event, whereas growing trees implies constant monitoring and care.
“Our goal is for the tree (to mature) to help prevent the landslide and the floods,” he emphasized, stressing the importance of considering the long-term impact of activities for effective disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
This focus on long-term impact aligns with this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) theme, “Bantayog ng Katatagan at ang Pagbubuklod sa Layuning Kahandaan.”
The theme highlights the significance of preparedness in mitigating the impacts of disasters and that it is a shared responsibility between the government and the community.
The PDRRMO’s tree-growing initiative is one of several activities planned for the NDRM celebration. A Provincial Disaster Resilience Summit is also scheduled for July 22-23. This summit will showcase Lanao del Sur’s experiences with DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) efforts that have fostered a strong sense of resilience across the province. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
