A school in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, has partnered with hydropower operator FG Bukidnon Power Corporation (FG Bukidnon) in implementing a project to save and propagate rare and threatened premium native trees.
Officials of Damilag Integrated School and FG Bukidnon signed last June 14 in Manolo Fortich a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to formalize their partnership underthe reforestation project, called BINHI.
The MOA with Damilag Integrated School brought to 153 the number of partners and institutions supporting BINHI, the massive and nationwide reforestation program being spearheaded by Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a sister company of FG Bukidnon.
Under the MOA, Damilag Integrated School set aside a portion of the tree park within the campus in Barangay Damilag as a safe haven for replanting these trees.
EDC, through FG Bukidnon, has committed to provide the school not only the seedlings for the replanting area but also the technical assistance, including scientific data, needed for the care of the seedlings.
Immediately after the MOA signing, 50 tree seedlings were planted in the designated replanting area of the school. They included seeds from trees locally known as yakal-saplungan, molave, kalingag, malabayabas, katmon, almaciga, kalantas, and supa.
The seedscame from an inventory of 96 threatened and vanishing tree speciesthat EDC has so far identified and rescuedunder BINHI since theproject started in 2008.
FG Bukidnon owns and operates the 1.6-megawatt hydroelectric power plant in Damilag, Manolo Fortich, while EDC is the country’s largest geothermal energy producer with integrated power stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Like FG Bukidnon, EDC is a subsidiary of First Gen Corporation, the country’s leading clean and renewable energy company. BINHI forms part of the First Gen Group’sgoal for low-carbon future.
IN SUPPORT OF BINHI Officials representing the Department of Education, the local government of Manolo Fortich, and First Gen Corporation link hands during simple MOA signing ceremonies in support of the BINHI reforestation project. They are (from left) Edgardo Del Rosario, First Gen assistant vice president;HersonLacorte, FG Bukidnon plant head; Dr. RollenSumuoy, DepEd division supervisor; Jennifer Tabiliran, chairperson of Barangay Damilag, Manolo Fortich; and Edna Labnotin, principalof Damilag Integrated School.
