Climate change and global warming has been felt worldwide in these past years. Efforts have been initiated periodically to mitigate its effects on humanity. Such ventures are not only laudable, but doable, too. This can likewise be replicated in the entire country, benchmarking on those that may have already implemented it and learn from their best practices.
Sometime ago, specifically in Dumaguete City, the so-called UrbanGreen project was launched by a local private civic organization in order to promote and establish an agro-forestry park as well as food production campaign.
With the help of certain government agencies, it may very well be a partnership all for the purpose of mitigating the long-term effects of climate change, which the entire humanity is reeling from today, or much more so, today.
The project, a green belt, could be established in various parts with a mini agro-forestry park planted with appropriate tree species, including ornamental plants.
While some entities and institutions may have already been doing this, this time, the schools are encouraged to also produce selected vegetables for food production using organic technology.
The local government unit and other line agencies can identify idle, empty, and open lands and convert them to green belts and promote vertical gardens on selected buildings and schools with a limited land area.
In terms of sustainability, it is based on Dumaguete City Ordinance No. 4 series of 2013, which promotes food production in the city by utilizing privately owned idle lots.
There are experts who can share organic technology on bio-fertilization and greenbase vermicompost to school officials.
Students and teachers can plant more fruit trees in their respective schools than the regular trees and ornamental plants.
Seedlings can also be provided by concerned government agencies, especially that there is now a multi-million mechanized nursery in Banban, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
The machine is expected to produce a daily output of 250,000 seeded bags per day, which can plant of 15.5 million seedlings on a yearly basis.
Meanwhile, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has turned over six community projects under its corporate social responsibility program to its recipient-barangays in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
The projects include street lights for the road from Dumaguete-Palinpinon boundary for Barangay Palinpinon; 100-meter concrete road for Barangay Malabo; pre-school buildings for barangays Dobdob and Badiang Primary School, Pulangbato; gym bleachers for Caidiocan; and, water system for Malaunay’s Barangay Agricultural Development Center.
The company has planted 300,000 trees so far in 300 hectares as part of its advocacy movement, “10M in 10” or plant 10 million trees in 10 years.
The “10M in 10” is the first and biggest forest restoration movement to plant, grow, and protect trees not only in Valencia, but in the entire Negros Island.
These have also provided scholarships and school supplies to high school students, including health and education infrastructure for the welfare of the residents. | NWI
