The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with the DENR Association of Career Executives (ACE), Career Service Executive Board (CESB) and McDonald’s Philippines, conducted a tree planting activity at the La Mesa Watershed Reservation in Quezon City last November 11.
The activity was in line with the 49th founding anniversary of CESB and a prelude to the National Volunteer Month in December to be spearheaded by the DENR’s Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service.
“Just like in the tree planting activity, seeds are planted in the hearts of the volunteers. Sustaining these seeds require utmost effort so that they would grow and flourish,” said DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones in a speech delivered by Assistant Secretary for Human Resources, Strategic Communication and Sectoral Initiatives Hiro V. Masuda.
A total of 150 seedlings of the hardwood species Dracontomelon dao were planted during the activity.
The tree planting initiative, which is under the DENR ACE’s ComPassion Project, stresses the importance of 5Ps — People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity and Partnership.
According to Leones, the tenets of the 5Ps are “fully embodied under the recently concluded tree planting activity that was participated not only by the DENR, but its stakeholders as well.”
CESB Executive Director Maria Marcy Cosare-Ballesteros expressed gratitude to the DENR and said, “The DENR inspired us to better understand the importance of planting trees, especially that climate change is already here.”
For his part, Atty. Jose Gabrielle Petrache, public affairs and sustainability manager at Golden Arches Development Corporation, which is the master franchise holder of McDonald’s in the Philippines, said: “Typhoon Queenie and Paeng have caused so much loss to the Filipino people. The said impact could have been lessened if we planted more trees.” ###
