A total of 215 MO/C personnel were able to plant more than 264 tree seedlings of various species during the PMO’s Tree Growing Activity which kicked-off during the PPA’s 47th Anniversary celebration on 12 July 2021 and was launched in line with the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM).
Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and stricter community quarantine imposed in the City of Cagayan de Oro, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MO/C) has not lost sight of its Corporate Social Responsibility towards environmental protection and sustainability and continuing enhancement of environmental awareness among the port stakeholders especially its personnel through organization of green initiatives. The Tree Growing Activity also signified the PMO’s solidarity with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council’s (DRRMC) in its call for collaboration of all the Filipinos to overcome the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and build a green and resilient normal and the Philippine Ports Authority that likewise enjoined everyone to recover and together rise above the current public health emergency as underscored in its anniversary theme, “Sama-Sama at Sabay-Sabay sa Paggaling at Pagbangon”.
In order to maintain compliance with the minimum public health standards, the PMO modified the tree growing activity. From the usual group planting in a designated area, personnel were enjoined to participate by individually planting any variety of tree seedlings in their own backyard or any preferred location. Participation of their immediate family was also encouraged.
PMO employees from the Baseport and Terminal Management Office of Balingoan, Camiguin, and Opol including their outsourced administrative support, janitorial, and security personnel participated in the said activity which ran until 20 July 2021. Others have planted more than one (1) tree seedling. Each one has documented their involvement through photos with hashtags #MOCgreen, #GreenPort, and #PlantOneGrowOne. Some also shared video documentation of their tree planting with their immediate family and posted the same in their own social media accounts to help raise public environmental awareness.
Port Manager Isidro V. Butaslac, Jr. remarked that this initiative for environmental preservation would not only benefit the current generation but also the generations to come.