CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – In a continuous endeavor to raise one million fruit-bearing trees, the troops of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office – MisOr (PENRO-MisOr) and the Beta Sigma Fraternity conducted a tree planting activity held at 4ID Headquarters, Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City, on July 9, 2023.
The activity spearheaded by Dir. Henry A Adornado Ph.D., the Regional Executive Director (RED) of DENR X, and 4ID Commander Major General Jose Maria R Cuerpo II, who are also both members of the Beta Sigma, together with the personnel and members of the fraternity were able to plant assorted fruit-bearing seedlings from the Department of Agriculture Region 10 and endemic tree specie in various locations inside the camp. Also in attendance were Mr. Ferdinand E. Dagulo, PENR Officer, Jerome G. Pioquinto, Officer-in-Charge of CENR, and other officers and enlisted personnel of 4ID.
The initiative is part of the Army’s Green Camp Program to address the challenges posed by climate change and in support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s environmental protection and food security program. It is also in line with the Philippine Army help in preventing climate change by invigorating Private-Public Partnerships through the Whole-of-Nation Approach.
It can be recalled that the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Army signed a memorandum of a partnership agreement that commenced the “Raising of One Million Fruit-Bearing Trees” Project earlier this year. The agreement aimed to foster a collaborative effort to plant 1 million trees during President Marcos’s term.
MGen Cuerpo II emphasized that the tree-planting initiative is a symbolic gesture between 4ID, DENR and DA in partnership with socio civic groups in showing the strong partnership to contribute to the mitigation of the effect of climate change and create awareness of the importance of tree conservation and environmental protection among the troops and the populace. Further, MGen Cuerpo II enjoined the troops to continue to plant the seeds of change today, ensuring a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.
