SU and EDC unveil Palinpinon arboretum marker

Representatives from Silliman University (SU) and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) pose shortly after the unveiling of the marker. They are (Front) Jocelyn Elise B. Inocencio, CENTROP Biological Researcher; Dr. Mae Brigitt Mae Bernadel L. Villordon, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs (AVPAA) and concurrent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Dr. Margaret Helen U. Alvarez, interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR); Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, university president; Maria Nancy P. Ibuna, EDC’s Corporate Relations and Communications Division (CRCD) head; Myrissa L. Tabao, EDC Negros Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) head; (Back) Asst. Prof. Michael Lawton R. Alcala, Biology Department chairperson; Asst. Prof. Leandro S. Cabrera, CENTROP coordinator; Lou Jean C. Cerial, CENTROP Animal Zookeping head; Renato Bonto, Security Negros and Mt. Apo head; and Dr. Robert S. Guino-o II, interim executive director for Research, Publication, and Innovation and concurrent SUAKCREM director.

Silliman University (SU), through the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies (CENTROP), and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) inaugurated and unveiled the SU-EDC Binhi Arboretum marker today, September 4, 2024, at the SU CENTROP in Palinpinon, Valencia, Negros Oriental.

The ceremony gathered SU and EDC officials, together with the SU Biology Department, the SU CENTROP staff and researchers, the Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management (SUAKCREM) members, and the student-led SU Biology Society.

Dr. Betty Cernol McCann underscored this partnership with EDC, highlighting the significance of the Binhi Arboretum in the “wellbeing of society and environment” in accordance with SU’s vision.

The SU community join Dr. Betty Cernol McCann during the inauguration of the SU-EDC Binhi Arboretum marker.

“It is in our own very nature as an institution to be concerned about the environment,” McCann said in her welcome message.

She also thanked the EDC for its longtime partnership with SU, emphasizing today’s event as “a way for us to formally seal this partnership.”

Meanwhile, Maria Nancy P. Ibuna, EDC’s Corporate Relations and Communications Division (CRCD) head, pointed out that SU is currently their 179th partner among the 218 for their Binhi project, EDC’s environmental banner program. Binhi is the largest, private sector-led restoration initiative in the country.

The SU-EDC partnership for this initiative has since started in October 2020 with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) via Zoom. In 2022, efforts for a tree planting activity commenced, with more than a hundred trees planted. Prior to this, more than 200 trees have initially been planted at the arboretum.

“Today we are now finally launching the Arboretum. We already have 41 arboreta so far all over the country. Of course, Silliman is one of those, so we are happy for Silliman to be part of this partnership with EDC,” Ibuna said in her message.

SU Biology Society students take part in the ceremony.

EDC intends to plant a total of 60 of the endemic and threatened Visayan tree species, one of which is the red lauan (Shorea negrosensis). EDC’s initiative focuses on planting native and threatened tree species and continuing efforts in forest restoration.

According to Ibuna, this partnership with SU also extends to other initiatives such as the biodiversity conservation and monitoring programs, where SU has been very helpful in monitoring the different flora and fauna within the area.

The SU-EDC Arboretum is the 17th arboretum set up in the country, according to Ariel H. Dela Cruz, EDC Negros’ Watershed Management Officer, who shared a quick background of the project.

The SU CENTROP in Palinpinon has 19 hectares with the whole area divided into two: the flora, which is the arboretum, and the fauna, the conservation area for the animals.

“Integration or collaboration is part of the biodiversity conservation [management],” Dela Cruz said, illustrating both SU and EDC’s partnership.
Dela Cruz also celebrated partnerships with the local community, particularly the forest patrollers working on the site as well as the maintenance group of the arboretum who are from the community in Apulong.

Asst. Prof. Leandro S. Cabrera, SU CENTROP coordinator, also thanked EDC’s partnership with SU.

“In caring for God’s creation through this partnership, we not only nurture the environment but also embody the values of stewardship, community, and love that is fair not just for humans but also for plants,” Cabrera said in his closing message.

The ceremony concluded with a ceremonial planting of the red lauan headed by McCann of SU and Ibuna of EDC.

Together with McCann were Dr. Dennis McCann, husband of Dr. Betty Cernol McCann; Dr. Margaret Helen U. Alvarez, interim vice president for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR); Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel L. Villordon, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs (AVPAA) and concurrent College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) dean; Dr. Robert S. Guino-o, SUAKCREM director; Dr. Theresa A. Guino-o, SU College of Nursing (SUCN) dean; Asst. Prof. Michael Lawton R. Alcala, SU Biology Department chair; Glynnis Jean C. Casiño, Strategic Partnership and Enterprise Development officer-in-charge (OIC); the SU CENTROP staff and researchers; the SUAKCREM staff; the SU Biology Department; and SU Biology Society students.

Members of the EDC, SU’s community partner, pose after the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Ibuna and Dela Cruz were joined by Myrissa L. Tabao, EDC Negros Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) head; Aubrey Bangaysiso, Watershed Management officer-Negros; Mary Grace Tito, community partner-Negros; Carl Vincent Dipaling, GeoChemist, Flowtest, and Sampling; Ernesto Calumpit, Negros internal security officer; Renato Bonto, Security Negros and Mt. Apo head; Noel Regalado, Negros Administration support; and John Winston Macayan, Site Maintenance engineer.