COMMUNITY ♦ 2,000 more planted in first Archdiocesan pocket forest
2,000 more planted in first Archdiocesan pocket forest
THE collaboration of the Archdiocese of Cebu and Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) in growing trees continued to blossom as a second wave of planting laid 2,000 more seedlings on top of 1,600 during the first wave.
Both institutions have committed in an agreement in February 2017 to plant 10,000 trees in a 7-hectare property that SEDC used to mine out some minerals in the hinterlands of San Fernando, Cebu under St. Augustine de Hippo Parish.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Central Visayas commended SEDC for helping establish the first parish community-based pocket forest in Cebu.
DENR-7 OIC regional director Emma E. Melana and Eng’r. Loreto B. Alburo, MGB-7 regional director, signed and handed the award on June 29, eight days after the second wave of planting.
After the first wave on March 22 led by no less than Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma, D.D., the second wave last June 21 with 91 volunteers helped achieve a little over one-third in the number of trees aimed to be planted in the area.
The volunteers included 45 parishioners led by Fr. Murphy Sarsonas, parish priest and head of Archdiocese Commission on Environmental Concerns, 11 Magsico barangay officials led by chieftain Johnny Arriesgado and municipal agriculturist Nelson Soronio.
Also, 30 SEDC employees and four from TCPI led by environment and safety officer Dwight P. Avila joined them in planting 900 Mahogany seedlings, 500 Narra, 300 Star Apple and 300 Duhat.
Mitzie Almira I. Carin, SEDC division manager for human resources and administration, bared plans are afoot to further develop what has been christened as SEDC-St Augustine EcoPilgrimage Park.
Such plans would allow activities as seminars, camping, recollection, and stations of the cross, while SEDC maintains the park and ensure the growth of the trees as it had committed in the agreement with the Archdiocese.
This as the parish also committed to mobilize lay organizations and movements to achieve the goal of planting 10,000 trees, help SEDC maintain and ensure their growth and report to the Archdiocese every quarter
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