Guimaras school kids to help plant 15T mangrove seedlings
Some 15,000 seedlings of different mangrove species will be planted in the coastal areas of San Lorenzo, Guimaras province.
According to Rhodora Capulso, Information Officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region VI, the tree planting activity will be held on September 12 covering some three hectares, and will be participated in by Grades 4 and 5 pupils from six barangay elementary schools of San Lorenzo.
"This is part of the commitment of the local government of the municipality of San Lorenzo, the Department of Education and DENR to help rehabilitate the area.It is part of the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the province of Guimaras after the oil spill in August 2006,"Capulso said.
The undertaking is an off-shoot of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the LGU of San Lorenzo,DepEd,and the DENR to rehabilitate the area.
Under the MOA,the LGU will provide funds for the rehabilitation activity; the DENR shall provide technical services the DepEd shall provide the tree planters; and the community shall be the protectors of the trees and shall do maintenance work,Capulso said.
Mayor Jimmy Gajo of the said town disclosed that the activity is very significant considering that the children and their parents will be the one to plant, protect and maintain the mangrove plantation and "hopefully will be turned into an eco tourist area in the future".(PIA/T.Villavert)