Putting its GREENIN Philippines Program’s advocacies into action, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold “Run 2 Plant for GREENIN Philippines” on June 25 in commemoration of the Philippine Environment Month and World Environment Day in June.

The run and plant event is organized in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government, local government units, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and various government institutions and corporate groups.

The Run 2 Plant for GREENIN Philippines is linked with the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGWEN) Our Cebu Program’s environmental protection and enhancement component. eGwen Our Cebu Program is a joint development program of the Province of Cebu and RAFI with the aim of making Cebu an ideal place to live, work, play, invest and do business.

“The event has two segments, the running and the planting. This event is an approach to promote health among people by running and health of the environment by planting native tree species, thus benefitting both people and environment,” Neil Papas, program coordinator of the GREENIN Philippines Pogram, said.

The central event will be held in a 30-hectare forestland in Jaclupan, Talisay City. The area, which is within the critical Mananga watershed, shall be developed into a forest model through a co-management agreement among DENR, Cebu Provincial Government, Talisay City Government, Metro Cebu Water District, and RAFI.

Simultaneously, the other 50 municipalities and component cities of the Province of Cebu will hold the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines in their respective jurisdictions, making the event a province-wide endeavor.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has recently issued an executive order, mandating the implementation and institutionalization of the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines throughout the province.

The Run 2 Plant for GREENIN Philippines targets to plant 160,000 native tree species simultaneously all over Cebu on the said date.

“The activity does not end on June 25. Through the eGWEN Our Cebu Program, the Cebu Provincial Government and RAFI will undertake post-planting activities in collaboration with DENR, various LGUs, partners and volunteers to ensure that the native tree seedlings planted will grow and become forests after a few years,” Papas added.

RAFI’s GREENIN Philippines Program, which stands for Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines Program, seeks to develop, protect, enhance and co-manage denuded forestlands, brush lands and degraded residual natural forests by planting native tree species.

Earlier, RAFI expressed support and committed its GREENIN Philippines Program to complement DENR’s National Greening Program developed under Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Benigno Aquino III last February 24.

RAFI is the only non-government organization being considered to undertake activities in support of the National Greening Program in Region 7 along with 16 government agencies, instrumentalities, and government-owned and controlled corporations.

For more information about the Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, please contact 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for Neil Papas or Myryl Mendoza.