10M in 10 recognizes partners in Negros Island

The 10M in 10 is a private-sector led movement that aims to inspire, unite, and encourage community stakeholders and the public to plant, grow, and protect 10 million years in 10 years in Negros Island.

Some 100 individuals from the local government units, national government agencies, academe, academe, business and private sector groups, and non-government organization sector participated in the activity held Dec. 12 at Perpetual Help Community Cooperative Inc., (PHCCI).

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) Senior Manager and Head of Reservior and Project Management Division Engr. Vicente Omandam and Green Convergence for Safe Food, Health Environment and Sustainable Economy President Dr. Angelina Galang, who were the special guests of the event, presented the plaques and certificates of recognition to 10M in 10 partners who were cited during the event.

The first award was given in recognition to the organization’s partners who planted more than 10, 000 trees this year.

The recipients were Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (DENR – CENRO) of Dumaguete City, DENR-CENRO of Cadiz City, City Environment and Natural Resources Office of Tanjay City, Mangrove Sea Grasses Vital Synergy, Cartronix and Logistics Transport Corp., New Bian Yek Commercial Inc., Protected Area Rangers of Tanjay City, Bacolod City Water District, National Irrigation Administration in Negros Occidental, Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Bago City, Municipal Agriculturist Office of Valencia, Negros Oriental, City Environment Management Office of San Carlos City, and the Local Government of Hinoba-an.

Also recognized were partners who were able to achieve at least 85 percent survival rate of their planted trees.

The recipients were Mr. Rene Vendiola, Mr. Eduardo Baptista, Bacolod City Water District, Barangay Unit of Atipulan and ENRO of Bago City, Negros Oriental State University, St. Paul University Dumaguete, Municipal Agriculturist Office of Sibulan, DENR-CENRO of Cadiz City, Barangay Unit of Pahanocoy, Dumaguete City Water District, ENRO of Sipalay City, ENRO of Tanjay City, Tanjay Protected Area Rangers, and Mosser Environment Corp.

In his message, Omandam congratulated the partners and cited the collaboration of different sectors in promoting a greener Negros and mitigating climate change.

“Through our continuous synergy, may we all be able to witness the improvement in the island’s ecosystems revitalize its biodiversity, and create communities that are resilient to the effects of climate change,” he said.

During the activity, 10 M in 10 Forest Restoration Management Officer Francis Dilig shared an update on the status of the program in Negros Island based on their Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) reports.

Based on the data he presented as of December 2018, there are already 40 sites with ME results.

Twenty-one of these are in Negros Oriental while the remaining 19 are in Negros Occidental.

Said figure translates to around 656 hectares of land covered by the greening program.

Twelve of these lands are privately-owned while the rest are government-owned.

Currently, there are 101 identified species of native, endemic, and exotic forest trees and fruit bearing trees planted in these sites.

The survival rate of these trees are pegged at 0 to 100 percent while the mean or the average survival rate is at 66.97 percent and the median or the middle value of the range of 82.5 percent.

Dr. Angelina Galang, the keynote speaker of the event, encouraged 10M and 10 Movement and their partners to pursue this initiative for sustainable development.

“I think the examples shared will be inspiring and will encourage people to plant trees. The spirit of healthy competition will encourage people to join the planting. If Negros will look into itself that you are doing something good, it will inspire other people,” Galang said. (ra/PIA7-Negros Oriental)