CATBALOGAN, Samar –
In support to President Gloria Macapagal-Aroroyo’s 8 by ’08 priority
programs on Green Philippines, Basey LGU gathered more than 300 well
meaning individuals from Basey and other government agencies to a
massive jatropha and coconut planting on June 22, 2007.
The massive tree
planting activity dubbed as “Baktas Kabub’wason” (Walk for the Future)
was well attended by the 62nd Infantry Battalion, students from the
Valeriano C. Yancha Memorial Agricultural School (VCYMAS), LGU
officials, officials from the 57 barangays, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) Provincial Environment and Natural
resources Officer (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural
Resources Officer (CENRO), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and
Samar media.
Originally initiated
for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agrarian Reform
Communities (ARCs) Baktas Kabub’wason was conceptualized by SB Anita
Ogrimen, Mayor Vic Labuac, commanding officer of 62nd IB LtCol. Jonathan
Ponce and DAR’s visionary Chito dela Torre who also heads the
Provincial Agrarian reform Support Services Office.
Although Basey Mayor
Vic Labuac and SB Anita Ogrimen failed to get a fresh mandate from
Basey, both officials actively attended to the tree planting and other
corollary activities.
The site, some 30
kilometers from Basey proper is a part of 86-hectare public land being
maintained by the Samar State College of Agriculture and Forestry (SSCAF)
said Labuac.
It was named BIO-FUEL
MICROFOREST Baktas Kabub’wason Pilot Project Site, located in Barangay
Balante, Basey Samar.
Samar PENRO George
Guillermo who joined the activity on the site urged the media to take
pictures as it is rare, he said to mobilize such number to ‘green the
countryside’.
When PENRO Guillermo
was asked why jatropha, he cited the economic benefits of the plant
which he said, just abound in the wild. He cited that Philippine
Forest Corporation has assured farmers that it is willing to buy
jatropha fruits.
Jatropha curcas,
is a multi-use, multi-benefit plant that grows well in arid regions in
marginal soil, thriving on even the poorest stony soil unsuitable for
food crops, said CENRO Elias Aya-ay.
Jatropha curcas
seed can be used as Bio-diesel for any diesel engine without
modification. Some 31 to 37% of oil is extracted from a jatropha seed,
PENRO Guillermo added.
PCA Samar Chief
meanwhile assisted the others who opted to plant coconuts. Some 230
coconut seedlings of wawa and orange dwarf varieties were withdrawn
from the PCA Regional Nursery. Wawa known for its rich sap can be used
in tuba (wine) and vinegar manufacture.
Re-elected SB member
Anita Avila and Barangay Villa Aurora Chieftain Meliton Lancanan also
vowed to plant some more in their private lands as they both believe
in the economic importance of the otherwise wild plant.
