2 Plant caps environment month

CEBU, Philippines - This year's Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines central event, which was held for the second time in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City, drew a massive crowd of more than 15,000 participants from various companies, schools, youth groups, business institutions, religious organizations, and government agencies and offices last June 30.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is held annually every last Saturday of June, which celebrates Environmental Month.

The event started with a three-kilometer run to the planting site. After reaching the finish line, each participant was given two native tree seedlings to plant.

"As a first timer, I enjoyed the event a lot," Luzviminda Bascon, 48, member of the Federation of Talisay Urban Dwellers Association, said.

With the challenging terrain of the planting site, 70 percent of the seedlings were planted. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Talisay City Government will plant the remaining seedlings and conduct regular monitoring to ensure their growth. Various mountaineering groups will also help in conducting cleanups and nurturance activities in the planting site.

"It was really tiring but it's worth it," 14-year-old Nilgar Ganabali, student of Bulacao National High School, said.

 The running and planting event was simultaneously held in the 51 towns and component cities of Cebu Province. This year, Davao del Sur, Davao City, and Compostela Valley also organized their own Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, making these areas the first local government units outside Cebu to replicate the event.

 Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 was organized in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government, Aboitiz Equity Venture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Talisay City local government unit and other LGUs in Cebu, and various government and private institutions.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, one of the components of the GREENIN Philippines program, is a fun run and planting activity that provides a venue for every Filipino to contribute in rehabilitating and protecting our environment with the goal of bringing back the country's forest cover.

GREENIN Philippines Program, which stands for Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines Program, is one of the programs under RAFI's Integrated Development focus area. It aims to address environmental problems by undertaking initiatives for the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of our country's forests. RAFI's other focus areas are Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about the GREENIN Philippines Program, please contact 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for Myryl Mendoza, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.  (FREEMAN)