Zamboanga Peninsula — In a remarkable show of environmental solidarity, 2,026 volunteers from across Zamboanga Peninsula came together to plant a total of 17,600 native tree seedlings in celebration of Philippine Arbor Day. This massive tree-growing campaign covered nine planting sites and spanned approximately 19.68 hectares, highlighting the region’s growing commitment to sustainable land management and ecological restoration.
Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX, the Arbor Day celebration became a unifying platform for individuals and institutions from all walks of life—including government agencies, civil society groups, the academe, military units, local government units, and private organizations.
Among the native tree species planted were narra, red nato, lumbayao, tugas, and bamboo, all of which play a vital role in reforestation efforts, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation.
A Renewed Commitment in Tukuran
One of the key highlights of the event took place at the Mechanized Modernized Forestry Nursery (MMFN) in Baclay, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, where a Signing Ceremony on Renewed Commitment for Forest Tree Growing was held. This was officiated by DENR Region IX Executive Director Arturo E. Fadriquela, and culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 15 partner agencies.
The signatories, which include BJMP-IX, LGU Tukuran, BLGU Baclay, PIA-IX, KBP-ZDS Chapter, military units from the 1st Infantry Division and Armor Division, Palawan Pawnshop Group, DOLE, PRC IX, Philippine Coast Guard-ZDS, World Mission Society Church of God, GA Alano & Sons Credit Corporation, Tactical Operations Group 9, 1st Field Artillery Battalion, and Pagadian City Water District, pledged to sustain and strengthen their involvement in reforestation and conservation.
As a gesture of appreciation, the DENR distributed lapnisan and mangosteen seedlings to the partner agencies. This was followed by an actual planting activity where 217 volunteers sowed 1,100 red nato and narra seedlings, accompanied by seed-sowing demonstrations and hands-on participation.
A Regional Movement in Action
The tree planting efforts were widely dispersed, with each locality contributing uniquely to the larger environmental agenda:
- Dapitan City: 120 participants planted 1,000 narra seedlings.
- Diplahan and Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay: 165 volunteers planted 600 lumbayao seedlings.
- Bulacan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte: 82 participants planted 500 narra seedlings.
- Palomoc, Titay: 157 individuals planted 700 narra seedlings.
- Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur: 149 planters sowed 300 narra seedlings.
- Lipakan, Roxas: 174 participants planted 1,200 seedlings of lumbayao, tugas, and giant bamboo.
- Murcielagos Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (Labason and Sta. Cruz, Liloy): 75 volunteers planted 200 seedlings, including narra, mahogany, rengilla, and balok-balok.
- Barangay Lumayang, Zamboanga City: The biggest single-site effort saw 886 participants planting 12,000 seedlings of narra, palo maria, and nato, spearheaded by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
A Greener Tomorrow
The Arbor Day celebration in Zamboanga Peninsula is not just a ceremonial event—it is a demonstration of shared responsibility and inter-sectoral collaboration. It strengthens the momentum behind the National Greening Program (NGP), which aims to rehabilitate degraded forest lands while promoting biodiversity and resilience against climate-related disasters.
By prioritizing native species, these activities ensure that reforestation efforts are ecologically appropriate and culturally rooted. They also symbolize hope—reminding communities that sustainable development and environmental protection go hand in hand.
As the seedlings take root, so too does a growing sense of environmental stewardship across the region—one that promises to benefit not only today’s generation but countless others to come.