Leyte community unites for Oplan Broadcastreeing 2016

Press Release
September 5, 2016

TACLOBAN CITY – About 600 participants from radio and TV stations, national agencies, schools, local officials, residents, civic and business groups joined the 2016 Oplan Broadcastreeing in Barangay Tanghas, Tolosa, Leyte on September 3, 2016.

Participants planted 1,000 talisay trees provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which will serve as shoreline protection of this town facing the Pacific Ocean.

OIC-Assistant Director Artemio Caneja of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which spearheaded the activity together with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Eastern Visayas Chapter, expressed hope that the plants would thrive with the support of the local government and residents.

This is the second straight year that the tree planting was held in the same venue, based on recommendation by DENR after noting some plants had died due to the elements and being eaten by grazing animals.

Among the groups that joined the tree planting were the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, local government of Tolosa, KBP member-stations DYVL Aksyon Radyo, i-FM, PRTV and DYDR Kaugop Radio, Bombo Radyo Tacloban; Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative; Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City; Visayas State University-Tolosa campus, Leyte Normal University, Rizal Central School, Tacloban City Central School, Delta Volunteer Fire Brigade, RADNET, Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative Incorporated (PHCCI), Philippine Red Cross, and Philippine Information Agency. Manila Bulletin and People’s Forum likewise joined the activity.

The provincial government of Leyte, City Government of Tacloban and LNU lent vehicles for the transport of participants while LGU-Tolosa, Pepsi Cola, Quality Bread Bakeshop and Coca Cola Philippines donated drinks and food for all.

Mayor Erwin Ocana of Tolosa, Leyte welcomed participants, while messages of support came from DILG OIC-Assistant Director Artemio Caneja and KBP-EV KBP-EV Chairperson Arwe K. Lam, as read by KBP-EV Auditor Hermie Songalia. Forester Wilfredo Lacambra of CENRO-Palo, Leyte oriented participants on the proper planting of talisay trees, while DENR and RADNET volunteers were paired to guide and monitor each delegation as they went about the tree planting in their designated areas.

The event was likewise graced by the presence of DENR Assistant Regional Director Carlito Tuballa, DYVL Aksyon Radyo Manager Francisca “Babes” Custodio (past KBP-EV Chairperson and current KBP-EV Action Officer); Mr. Ian Goldfinch, a volunteer from the Australian government working with DILG on project management; Blanca Cercado, chief of the Local Government Capacity Development Division (LGCDD) of DILG-8; and Nilda Go, KBP-EV Secretary.

Oplan Broadcastreeing is being held in line with the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in 2011 in support of the National Greening Program.