572 reforest 8 hectares

Mt. Manunggal is best remembered as a memorial site for one of the Philippines’ most beloved Presidents, Ramon Magsaysay. President Magsaysay was aboard the plane Mt. Pinatubo when it crashed in Mt. Manunggal, Cebu’s highest peak, 51 years ago. At that time, 90% of the area was forested hence several days had lapsed before the rescuers could safely remove the lone survivor, Nelson Mata, from Mt Manunggal.

The untimely demise of President Magsaysay, however, was just the beginning of many slow, unfortunate, yet unnoticed events in Mt. Manunngal and the rest of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape. For years, logging and conversion of forests into farm lands, among other harmful human practices, had vastly denuded the CCPL, better known as the Cebu hillylands. Continuous supply of water for Metro Cebu’s household and industrial consumption depends on a healthy hillylands. Its conservation must be a major priority to ensure a better future for Metro Cebu.

Last June 28, 2008, PBSP kicked off its Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan 2008. 572 individuals from 28 companies and organizations joined PBSP in planting 20,000 trees in Barangay Magsaysay, Municipality of Balamban, Cebu. Eight (8) hectares were planted with indigenous tree species such as almaciga, bayog, lawaan, lumbang, narra and tagilumboy in the barangay where Mt. Manunggal is located and named after the Philippine president. Mahogany, a fast-growing exotic tree species, was also planted.

Metro Cebu extracts its water from the aquifer, a groundwater reservoir, and the presence of forest cover sustains the water stored in the aquifer. Since 1991, PBSP’partnerships with the business sector, government and community-based organizations resulted to the planting of over 12 million forest and fruit tree species in 4,900 hectares.

PBSP’s Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan 2008 is happening every Saturday until October. Companies, NGO’s, schools, local government units and government line agencies are invited. For more information, please call (032) 232-5270 or 232-5283.

Thank you very much!

Aboitiz and Company
Cebu Daily News
Cebu Private Power Corporation
Center for International Education
East Asia Utilities Corporation
Janice Minor Export Inc.
Lear Automotive Services (Netherlands)B.V. Philippine Branch - Philippine Engineering and Technology Center
Pacific Traders Manufacturing Corporation
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Smart Communications
Shemberg Marketing Inc.
BUKID Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Campinsa-Manipis Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Cebu City Government
DENR Region 7
Department of Education
Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation
Fiber Industry Development Authority
Habagat
Kadangyan
MALTAJ Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Municipality of Balamban Government
Philippine Army 7th Infantry Batallion
Sudlon Marketing Cooperative
Tabok Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Tabunan Marketing Cooperative