SOUTH UBIAN, Tawi-Tawi — In line with the celebration of Kamahardikaan sin Tawi-Tawi, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) led a community-driven tree-growing initiative on September 1 in Tabawan Island, underscoring the Bangsamoro government’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Through its Bangsamoro Urban Forest for Ecological Restoration (BUFFER) program and Roadside Adopt-a-Tree activity, MENRE distributed and planted 1,000 native tree seedlings, including Narra and Bahanan. Of these, 200 seedlings were adopted by participants under the Adopt-a-Tree initiative, 500 were planted by local farmers, and 300 were entrusted to residents for their continued care.
Forest Management Services (FMS) Director Abdul-Jalil S. Umngan emphasized that the activity was not just about planting trees but about building a culture of environmental stewardship. “Each seedling represents a collective pledge to protect and nurture Tawi-Tawi’s natural heritage for future generations,” he noted.
The program was implemented by MENRE’s Community Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Office (CENREO) in partnership with the local government of South Ubian. Representing Mayor Hadzri H. Matba, Municipal Administrator Abdulajid S. Alih, Al-Haj reaffirmed the LGU’s support, highlighting the importance of shared responsibility between government and community in safeguarding the environment.
MENRE also recognized the Law Enforcement Team of South Ubian — composed of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Marines 312th Marine Company under Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 — for their dedication to enforcing environmental laws and assisting in conservation programs.
The event brought together a broad range of participants, including local officials, government agencies such as MAFAR, MSSD, and MBHTE, the MSU-TCTO Tabawan Junior High School, the Women Religious Sector, law enforcement units, and people’s organizations representing farmers, fisherfolk, and seaweed growers.
MENRE’s Chief Forester Ernest D. Sali, who spearheaded the technical implementation of the activity, said the event reflects the Ministry’s ongoing mission to build a greener and more resilient Bangsamoro.
With hundreds of trees now rooted in Tabawan’s soil, the activity became more than just a ceremonial planting. It was a reminder that environmental conservation thrives best when local communities, law enforcers, and government agencies come together in the spirit of unity and sustainability.