Soldiers
and local media in a tree planting activity inside the 87IB
camp. |
Greening an army
camp in Samar
By JAZMIN BONIFACIO
May 13, 2014
BRGY. POLANGI,
CalbigaSamar – Soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion based in
Barangay Polangi, Calbiga Samar started something they hope will last
for years to come. They planted a tree.
Army camps like in Calbiga
is different from traditional one. The soldiers demonstrated skills by
planting trees in the tree park in an effort to develop a sustainable
agriculture and agro forestry. This initiative of `trees for greener
future’ has worked well through, beautification of the barracks and
rehabilitation of the entire camp through planting indigenous trees.
This is a park within the
Army barracks, where the soldiers usually take their walk, hundreds of
army soldiers mobilized to plant trees inside barrack compound.
In coordination with the
office of Calbiga Mayor and the local office of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the 87th IB is establishing
a tree park inside the army camp.
The initiative is in
accordance with President Benigno Aquino 111, Executive Order No. 26,
implementing the National Greening Program along government policy to
pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security,
biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaption.
The government’s National
Greening Program aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 hectares of
public land within a span of six years, from 2011 to 2016.
Lt. Col. Antonio B. Dulnuan
Jr., Battalion Commander of 87th Infantry Battalion, is confident the
initiative will give a boost to the participation of the military
personnel in the greening program because of the sense of ownership
that will be developed among them as they plant trees inside the ½
hectares Tree Park in Calbiga Samar.
The 87th IB has planted 50
seedlings of Rambutan, 115 seedlings of Red Lawaan and 115 seedlings
of Mahugani.
It was learned that 87th IB
covers the municipalities of San Jose de Buan, Paranas, Jiabong,
Motiong, Daram, Hinabangan, Calbiga, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Talalora,
Sta. Rita, Basey, Zumarraga, San Sebastian and Marabut all of Samar.
Soldiers from 87th IB
encourage growing high nutrition crops and local food production.
Producing a variety of resilient food crops, helping communities to
diversify their nutritional sources, which is especially useful during
extreme weather conditions. They as well are engaging rural
communities, to help them address their needs for essential basic
services such as water, fertile soil, and a healthy ecosystem through
planting trees on critical watersheds.
Planting trees on public
lands and mountain catchments helps to reduce environmental
destruction – halting erosion through the retention of topsoil,
harvesting of rainwater, and helps communities build their resilience
to climate change.