Watershed project's last tree planted

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Energy Development Council and the Toledo Power Company has ended phase one of the Kabilin program through the ceremonial planting of the 79,000th Kabilin tree yesterday at the Malubog Watershed Area in Barangay Gen. Climaco, Toledo City.

A Kamagong tree was the last tree planted at the agro-forestry and biodiversity project covering the 100-hectare site of the Malubog watershed.

Among the Kabilin trees planted at the watershed were narra, gmelina and other fruit-bearing trees that kept the area sustainable and alive.

The Kabilin program aims to address issues on carbon emissions of power plants and provide livelihood opportunities to every community.

Oscar Magallones, Regional Technical Director of the Bureau of Forestry of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said they aimed to rehabilitate the area in three years but were able to do it in just two.

The Malubog Watershed Conservation Project was launched in August 2010. It was December 2011 when they planted a total of 5,182 seedlings until it reached 64,095 in March this year. For the first part of June, 78,980 seedlings were planted covering 92.5 hectares of the land.

“Ninety-five percent of the plants ang buhi since the project started,” Magallones said.

Magallones added that Cebu has 46,000 hectares of natural and man-made forest as of June this year. About 143,000 hectares in the entire country still need to be rehabilitated.

Arthur Aguilar, president of the Global Business Power Corp., said the second phase will be the Mananga Forest Restoration Project. This will be in collaboration with the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water Foundation Inc.

Toledo City Mayor Aurelio Espinosa said they appreciate the efforts of the stakeholders in preserving nature.

“Magtinabangay ta kay this will be for the future generation,” he said.

Forty-seven land stewards, who are also residents of the place, take care and monitor all the trees planted in the watershed.  (FREEMAN)