by Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The “One Million Malunggay” project was launched in Northeastern Mindanao or the Caraga region recently to help mitigate climate change.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) to materialize the project.
The advocacy program aims to plant one million malunggay (Moringa oleifera) trees across Caraga which is composed of five provinces and six cities in one year with the help of all higher education institutions and partner-agencies in the region.
“The project really intends to help mitigate climate change, restore greenery within the surrounding environment, and for communities to have easier access to malunggay trees and their many health benefits,” DENR Caraga Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo said.
“Hindi lang pangkalusugan ang bigay nito, pang kalikasan pa (It’s not only for the health but also for the environment),” Tamayo added.
Tamayo urged other government and private entities to plant malunggay trees in their vacant lands.
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Meanwhile, Tamayo and Gov. Santiago B. Cane Jr. turned over last month 7,667 armchairs to the Department of Education (DepEd) in Agusan del Sur represented by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Minerva T. Albis and Bayugan City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Imelda N. Sabornido in a simple ceremony at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Naliyagan Cultural Center, Government Center, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
These armchairs that will be used by students in 143 public schools were fabricated out of the 498.31 cubic meters of confiscated logs and flitches donated by the DENR to the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) last year.
Tamayo signed the MOU with CHED led by Regional Director (RD) Dr. George M. Colorado at the Hero Auditorium of the Caraga State University in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.
