iPlant Movement set to expand in 2016
ALAMINOS CITY—The iPlant Movement, an advocacy to plant one million trees in five years launched by the Diocese of Alaminos early this year, seeks to intensify its campaign in 2016.
The diocese, composed of 20 parishes and a seminary led by Msgr. Rey Jose Ragudos, initially planted more than 3,750 Acacia mangium seedlings in Bugallon, Mangatarem and in this city this year.
The bishop noted that the enthusiasm of parishioners towards the movement for reforestation and to be environment-conscious has taken roots and expects the campaign to further intensify net year.
Each parish in the diocese is committed to plant at least 2,000 seedlings per month.
“By planting as many trees possible, we are creating a modern forest as a sustainable resource, ideal for families and communities,” Ragudos said.
In coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and stakeholders in Germany and Switzerland, the movement has started capacity building, readying the seedlings to be planted.
“Now is the time to act. We have seen enough denuded mountains, rivers running dry, landslides and erosions resulting to dislocation, flooding and calamities, what we can do through the iPlant Movement should benefit our generation, the next generation and beyond,” Ragudos said
The iPlant Movement’s medium-term target of more than one million trees planted in five years has a corresponding budget target of P20-million sourced from advocates and stakeholders among them One Meralco Foundation, Metrobank Foundation, Shell Pilipinas, McDonald’s, Holcim and Cemex, Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, former Pangasinan 5th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco and 1st District Rep. Jesus “Boying” Celeste.
The basic philosophy of the iPlant Movement is embodied in 3 Es – education, environment and entrepreneurship.
Aside from reforestation, the iPlant Movement also sees to it that illegal logging, illegal quarrying, illegal fishing and illegal mining are discouraged and reported to authorities.
Jones Campos, a member of the steering committee and working group, said the movement will also expand its nursery in Mangatarem town.
There are designated church lands and DENR- designated public land as well as private lands can also be considered where the one million seedlings would be planted, Campos said. (Tita Roces)
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