CSCO Sponsors Mangrove Tree Planting

CSCO Sponsors Mangrove Tree Planting

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Civil Service Commission Office, Southern Leyte Field Office, the Philippine Government’s Control Personnel Agency, which celebrated its 110^th year anniversary last month, has sponsored Mangrove Tree Planting recently at sitio hapitan,brgy,Manhilo,this city, about 12 kilometers away from the city proper.

This was the information disclosed by Sharon Juanico Cerro, CSCO Senior Personnel Specialist, in an interview at the CSCO’s office with LSDE.

She said that the greening activity which was the culmination of a month-long celebration was participated in by an estimated 429 heads and personnel from various government agencies and offices. Like ,among others, the office of the provincial agriculturist,DENR-CENRO,CSCO personnel,DILG,SLSU,DepEd,GSIS,SSS,DPWH,OPGS,OCGS,some city hall and provincial employees,PACCO,DOLE,PNP.

She said that an estimated 1,000 mangrove seedlings were planted on the aforesaid place, which was an abandoned fishpond, occupying several hectares of lot.

Prior to the distribution of planting materials, City Agriculturist Amado Acasio briefed the participants the important role of mangrove trees in the ecosystem.

Mangrove trees are the habitat or breeding place for crabs, fishes and other marine creatures that lay their eggs, he said. The abundant presence of big mangrove trees in an area would likewise provide shelters for marine life. If there are plenty of mangrove trees, he said, the chances are many fishes and crabs and other marine species will lay their eggs there,thus providing more supply of sea foods for bigger fishes and man’s consumption.

Acasio further showed to the attendees/volunteer planters how to plant the 2 types of mangrove seedlings.

During the actual planting activities, which lasted for about two hours, participants wore rubber boots and rubber shoes to protect their feet from hard sharp shells and other sharp objects that they might step onto while wading on the murky waters.

Nevertheless, there were those who chose to wade on the muddy soil barefooted as they planted the seedlings.

Earlier, during the duration of the celebration, our source said, there were other activities like Thanksgiving Mass and morning exercise which was participated in by some officials and employees of government agencies based in the city; simultaneous Flag Rising ceremonies in all government agencies to promote this year’s theme in “R.A.C.E.(Responsive,Accessible,Courteous,Effective)to serve”; Campaign For Drug-Free Workplace in the Bureaucracy-Let’s Keep It This Way with resource persons from the PDEA,PIA,DOH and CSC; Blood-Letting(Dugo Ko Kinabuhi Mo) sponsored by the PNRC,Provl Govt.,City Govt., and the Civil Service Commission Office(CSCO) held at Maasin City Hall with 48 donors coming from 26 government agencies.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)