Greening an army camp in Samar

By JAZMIN BONIFACIO
May 13, 2014

BRGY. POLANGI, CalbigaSamar – Soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion based in Barangay Polangi, Calbiga Samar started something they hope will last for years to come. They planted a tree.

Army camps like in Calbiga is different from traditional one. The soldiers demonstrated skills by planting trees in the tree park in an effort to develop a sustainable agriculture and agro forestry. This initiative of `trees for greener future’ has worked well through, beautification of the barracks and rehabilitation of the entire camp through planting indigenous trees.

This is a park within the Army barracks, where the soldiers usually take their walk, hundreds of army soldiers mobilized to plant trees inside barrack compound.

In coordination with the office of Calbiga Mayor and the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the 87th IB is establishing a tree park inside the army camp.

The initiative is in accordance with President Benigno Aquino 111, Executive Order No. 26, implementing the National Greening Program along government policy to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaption.

The government’s National Greening Program aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 hectares of public land within a span of six years, from 2011 to 2016.

Lt. Col. Antonio B. Dulnuan Jr., Battalion Commander of 87th Infantry Battalion, is confident the initiative will give a boost to the participation of the military personnel in the greening program because of the sense of ownership that will be developed among them as they plant trees inside the ½ hectares Tree Park in Calbiga Samar.

The 87th IB has planted 50 seedlings of Rambutan, 115 seedlings of Red Lawaan and 115 seedlings of Mahogany.

It was learned that 87th IB covers the municipalities of San Jose de Buan, Paranas, Jiabong, Motiong, Daram, Hinabangan, Calbiga, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Talalora, Sta. Rita, Basey, Zumarraga, San Sebastian and Marabut all of Samar.

Soldiers from 87th IB encourage growing high nutrition crops and local food production. Producing a variety of resilient food crops, helping communities to diversify their nutritional sources, which is especially useful during extreme weather conditions. They as well are engaging rural communities, to help them address their needs for essential basic services such as water, fertile soil, and a healthy ecosystem through planting trees on critical watersheds.

Planting trees on public lands and mountain catchments helps to reduce environmental destruction – halting erosion through the retention of topsoil, harvesting of rainwater, and helps communities build their resilience to climate change.