Central Mindanao University (CMU) once again showed their love for the community by planting thousands of trees whose shades they can barely rest upon . .
July 3, 2012 became an extraordinary day for all. Everyone painted smiles on their faces as their hands and feet whirled in the mud. For barely two (2) hours, CMU faculty, staff, and students left behind how the rest of the world regard them and brought only their aim of planting hope for tomorrow.
The said ecological venture was in compliance with Section 32 of the Republic Act No. 10155 requiring all agencies of the government to plant trees in lands of the public domain of the National Greening Program (NGP) under E.O. No. 26, series of 2011. Moreover, this was in response to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) call for CMU as one of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) recognized to serve as an arm for the 2011-2016 NGP with the generous aim of raising high quality seedlings of our native tree species.
As an activity that supports the university’s thrust of “Green CMU: Sustainability Oriented University”, a memorandum was released to assure full support from the entire university. A total area of 2.11 hectares of Mt. Kalayo or “Musuan Peak” was planted with 9,444 seedlings of White Lauan, Narra, Kalomata, Kalumpit, and other locally grown trees by more or less 10,000 benevolent individuals.
This noble activity was realized through the collaborative efforts of the College of Forestry and Environmental Science – CMU, Forest Resources Development Division of the University Income Generating Project (FRDD-UIGP), College of Forestry and Natural Resources of The University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB), Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc (PTFCF), and Philippine Forestry Education Network (PFEN).
This venture was part and parcel of the accomplishment of the university and the nearby community as well. This short and simple act may live through decades, indeed, a great act of loving beyond oneself (DJACaballero/CCA).