GO, NGO partnership to strengthen reforestation, landscape restoration in C.Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) signed a partnership commitment on June 15, 2022 to strengthen all efforts and activities for reforestation and landscape restoration in Central Visayas.

The partnership is an acknowledgement of the continuing efforts to promote awareness on the importance of biodiversity conservation and wider participation in environmental protection programs such as reforestation, forest enhancement, forest parks, and agro-forestry.

RAFI OTT executive director, Anthony Dignadice said, this agreement is an initial platform for both parties to work, collaborate and become a stronger foundation for a more environmentally productive relationship.

RAFI Chief Operating Officer, Riella Mae Christa Guioguio emphasized the need to further expand and continue conservation efforts as climate change and deforestation are currently the world’s real issues.

“With the recent typhoon Odette, we know that climate change will happen and is happening. But at least we can slow it down through what we can do with our various programs. We believe that enabling communities to be resilient, we want our communities to be adaptable to climate change through our One To Tree (OTT) Program,” Guioguio said.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor, Jr. highlighted the shared responsibility towards preserving the environment and biodiversity conservation and thanked RAFI with this partnership as it also involves the rest of Central Visayas.

“We want to engage your (RAFI OTT) help as we look also on the other provinces of Region 7, especially ang Siquijor. Hopefully there will be some improvements as we move forward,” Melicor said.

Both parties believed that this partnership is for the long haul for the next generation to benefit from these efforts and more opportunities to collaborate. They are committed to help engage communities to protect and rehabilitate the environment through the establishment of tree nurseries and plantations with partner communities.

Melicor is very optimistic with the partnership noting that with the growing number of people and organizations that are aware and doing their respective reforestation efforts, the overall status of the environment in Central Visayas has partially improved.

“This partnership symbolizes a ray of sunshine: shining light onto the budding collaboration between two organizations working toward the common goal to protect, conserve and uplift our environment,” Melicor stated. (Photos: RAFI/DENR7 FB)