At Brgy Galalan in the town of Pangil, Laguna, Rotarians from Laguna clubs of District 3820 met up and kicked off the new Rotary year with a district-wide tree planting project.
According to District Governor Everett Olivan, he chose this activity to start his Champion Year with because he dreams of bringing people together to plant thousands of trees that will return the favor Nature has given us.
“This is our response to the global call for the mitigation of climate change,” he says.
Olivan also partnered with the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) to maintain and protect the planting sites of this kick-off activity for the next three years, enough for the saplings to be sturdy enough to continue growth on their own.
The chairman of the tree-planting kick-off project in Laguna, Past President Joewill Juntilla of the Rotary Club of Metro Biñan said he also tasked the Rotary Club of Siniloan, who hosted the activity, to take care of the trees.
In Batangas province, the Rotary Clubs of Area 2 Group 6 planted 1,000 trees in Kinalaglagan in San Sebastian, San Miguel, and Pusod Taal Lake. With the 3rd Airforce Wing Reserve, the Rotary Clubs of Lipa, Lipa South, Lipa West, Metro Lipa, and Mataas na Kahoy promised to nurture and visit the site every two months to check on the trees.
After planting the trees, a small fellowship ensued with a breakfast of porridge and egg followed by a program. Titled Tanim ng Rotaryo in Enriching the Environment (T.R.E.E.), the kick-off project was chaired by Past President Cherry Relova of RC Lipa South. The participation of the 3rd Airforce Wing Reserve upon the invitation by Rosemarie Rosimo of RC Lipa West.
“Above and below ground, trees are essential to the ecosystems in which we reside, they are an essential part of every community,” says Olivan. “For me the new planted trees bring hope, healing and a better future.”
Read the full text and see more photos in the August issue of the Philippine Rotary Magazine.
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