Massive tree-planting activities cum clean-up drive were conducted by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) in celebration of Philippine Environment Month in the month of June.
PEMO-Environment Management Division under Senior Environment Management Specialist Elbe Balucanag spearheaded the tree-planting activity on June 8 at the Integrated Provincial Environment Management Center in Tinongkop, Tantangan.
250 mahogany and 250 “moshe-she” seedlings were planted in the perimeter area of the facility by participants coming from the City and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices in the province.
Earlier on June 7, PEMO-Mines and Geo-Sciences Division headed by Nencita Acain conducted tree-planting along the gullies and riverbanks and clean-up in the small-scale mining tunnel sites identified as protection areas in the municipality of T’boli.
PEMO staff Rodolfo Librado disclosed that hundreds of rubber and assorted agro-forest trees were planted by SSM cooperatives and associations in the said area.
In Polomolok, Acain led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between PEMO and quarry operators to maintain the trees planted along the riverbanks near their respective quarry area.
PEMO-Forest and Inland Water Division led by Forester Mary Jane Manlisis with the Association of South Cotabato Earth Savers conducted Earth Savers Day and General Assembly on June 10 at the PROTECH Center.