"To grow a forest, we need to build communities. To build communities, we need to grow livelihood and make these beneficiaries our advocates for environmental conservation, protection and restoration. All these will be made possible if we also grow the partnership with other agencies just like SM Prime Holdings, Inc.", stressed Acting CaPENRO, Atty. Abeb Arboleda-Depon during the symbolic turnover ceremony of financial assistance to ISF Beneficiaries of Brgy. Bayuya, President Roxas, Capiz amounting to One Hundred Twenty Four Thousand Pesos (Php 124,000.00) on August 5, 2020.
Governor Esteban Evan B. Contreras, assisted by Mayor Receliste Escolin, SB Member Lalaine Badana-Young, MENRO Designate Hansel Bereber, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Project Engineer Tino Solidum and Acting CaPENRO Atty. Abeb Arboleda-Depon lead in the symbolic turnover of the said financial assistance to Ms. Mary Jane Estrella, ISF President of Bayuyan Integrated Social Forestry Beneficiaries and Punong Barangay Rudolph Estrella of Brgy. Bayuyan in the said municipality.
It could be recalled that last 2018, Brgy. Bayuyan was able to plant 5,000 seedlings in support to One Million Trees in One Day Project. In 2019, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. adopted the said community in compliance with the DENR requirements as to the construction of SM City-Roxas which require them to plant 6,200 trees in the Province of Capiz.
By adopting the community, SM entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with ISF Bayuyan and CaPENRO wherein the former shall allocate the amount of Twenty Pesos (Php 20.00) for every tree planted. Fifty percent of the said amount was already turned over last year upon planting 10,000 seedlings.
This year, the community targets to establish a Narra Tree Plantation. One Thousand Narra seedlings were already forwarded to the ISF for planting. Seedlings were donated by DENR-PENRO Aklan through Aklan Integrated Reforestation Project.
"Daku guid ang amon pagpasalamat sa SM nga naghatag sang fund dire sa Brgy. Bayuyan para sa pagtanom sang mga kahoy. Amon guid ini imaintain kag alagaan para maabtan man sang amon mga kabataan kag kaapohan ang kahoy nga guintanom namon," said ISF beneficiary Alma Fuentes.
Also, present during the turnover ceremony were Resident Engineer April Vic Dotimas of SM Prime Holdings, and Warehouseman Chris Bestudio of SM Prime Holdings.