Soldiers, CDO residents join Earth Day celebration

MANILA, Philippines - The military and its civilian partners yesterday celebrated International Earth Day by planting about 300 tree saplings in Cagayan de Oro City.

Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the activity was intended to mitigate the impact of floods and to rehabilitate the areas hit by tropical storm “Sendong.”

The storm left more than 1,200 people dead and more than 6,000 others injured last December.

Soldiers and representatives of the National Youth Commission-Region 10 planted saplings at the white water rafting landing area in Sitio Cabula, Barangay Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro City.

“This activity is not just timely but very much appropriate to address the concern of making this area more attractive to visiting tourists,” Osias said in a statement.

He said the landing area is one of the best tourist attractions in the city.

“It is a sad truth that the condition of the river that caters to this activity of the tourists has gone bad after Sendong. The typhoon destroyed trees beside the river,” Osias said.

Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the activity highlighted their role as protector not just of the people but also of the environment.  

“We are the steward of our country’s territory and the protector of the people, including our environment,” Felix said.

“The trees we plant will be (the next generation’s) resources,” he added.