SU-GXI hold 1st convention for 13 partner people’s organizations in NegOr

Participating POs do a quick stretch during the convention. The SU and GXI Reforestation Project in South Negros holds its first ever Annual Convention at Silliman University.

Silliman University (SU) and G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), which offers the biggest e-wallet service in the country, GCash, gathered thirteen (13) out of sixteen (16) partner People’s Organizations (POs) for its inaugural SU-GXI Reforestation Project in South Negros Annual Convention, on November 14, 2024, at the Multi Purpose Room, Silliman University.

The Reforestation Project aims to plant 2.8 million trees across the Philippines. Along with this reforestation project on a national scale is the goal to plant a million trees in the entire Negros Island, particularly in the southern parts of Negros.

The Southern Negros Reforestation project involves two phases: Phase 1, which is currently under implementation, aims to plant a total of 500,000 mangroves in Negros Oriental (Zamboanguita, Siaton, Bayawan, and Basay) while Phase 2, another 500,000 in Negros Occidental (Hinobaan, Sipalay, and Kawayan).

Since 2023, Phase 1 has already reached 150,000 planted mangroves and is set to plant 300,000 more by mid-2025.

Partner POs, GCash representatives, and faculty members of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences together with Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, pose for a photo at the convention.

Powered by GForest, an interactive platform in the GCash app that allows users to reforest the Philippines, the event aims to “celebrate the achievements of the Project and to further strengthen the partnership,” highlighting the mangrove conservation and rehabilitation efforts made by the project’s partner POs, as well as sharing some reforestation challenges setbacks and strategies that help overcome these challenges.

Patricia Blanca Manio, GCash GForest Sustainability manager, underscored the support that both SU and the POs continue to contribute to this project, adding that “together, we’re taking a bold step forward.”

Patricia Blanca Manio, GCash GForest Sustainability manager, shares her words of commitment to SU and the POs.

“Your dedication to nurturing our trees and young seedlings, ensuring that each one thrives, speaks volumes about the heart and spirit of our partnership,” Manio addressed all representative POs.

In her response, Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, stressed the vision of SU, the institution’s guiding principle that explains why there exists “a number of our researchers and advocates working in mangrove areas.”

“This project stands out as one of the university’s key initiatives today. And as you know, this was launched in May 2023 with the aim to expand and densify mangroves and beach forests in South Negros beyond current baseline levels over the next five years,” McCann further explained.

“For us here at Silliman as a show of our commitment, we will continue to employ a multidisciplinary approach on research, community partnerships, and policy support… so much remains to be done to keep the project going, and it needs a concerted effort from the community and the commitment and support of the local government units,” she added.

Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, reaffirms SU’s commitment to environmental protection.

Dr. Hilconida P. Calumpong, SU-GXI Reforestation Project in South Negros project coordinator and professor emeritus of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS), explained that the convention was held to “learn about the achievements and challenges of Phase 1 of the project” in Negros Oriental.

Floramae J. Neri, the project’s Field Operations coordinator, said that since 2023 until July 2024, there were only seven (7) active POs planting  . The number has since grown to 12 POs, and the project expects to have the remaining four POs to participate in the planting in the coming months. Neri hopes they will begin before the year ends.

Insights and future plans from participating POs

Majority of the thirteen POs present during the convention reported that the most common challenges they faced in their rehabilitation efforts included the onslaught of recent typhoons (Kristine and Leon, among others), monsoons, and extreme heat (El Niño). These natural calamities, which have been happening more frequently in recent weeks, make conservation extremely difficult, let alone monitoring the growth of planted mangroves.

Others expressed concern that these weather changes had, in some cases, washed away potted seedlings stored in their respective nurseries. One report indicated that parts of their nursery were looted by unidentified people in their neighborhood.

PO representatives pose with their Certificates of Completion for the Financial Literacy (FinLit) workshop.

Another representative expressed dismay over political decisions that bear significant implications in their conservation efforts. For instance, large fishing boats owned by political families in the area occupy municipal waters, intimidating small boat fisherfolks. Tensions like this get in the way of local residents from actively participating in projects like beach reforestations.

One reported issues over ownership of the land where these mangroves could have been planted or where the mangrove nursery could have been built.

Others also have a hard time actively participating in the project because of personal reasons. While the project offers these POs some income, it only serves as an “extra income” for these families. Majority of the members of these POs are fisherfolks who rely on fishing as their source of income.

However, before the convention ended, LGU representatives from Bayawan, Zamboanguita, Siaton, and Basay all committed to continuing the work despite these challenges. Among the tasks these POs will take on include planting 500 to 2,000 seeds and seedlings per month, rebuilding their mangrove nurseries, re-planting in areas where previously planted mangroves had been washed away by the recent typhoons, potting of more seedlings, and reactivating engagement of other PO members.

Dr. Hilconida P. Calumpong, SU-GXI Reforestation Project in South Negros project coordinator and professor emeritus of the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS), welcomes all POs to the first convention.

Partner POs, represented by their presidents or members, who joined the convention were those from Zamboanguita, including Latason-Cabcab Fisherfolks Association (LACABFA), Mojon, Mag-abo, Malatapay (or Triple M), and Lutoban Fisherfolk Multipurpose Association (LUFMA); those from Siaton, including Si-it Bay Fisherfolks Association (SBFA) and Bonawon Fishermen’s Association (BFA); those from Sta. Catalina, including San Francisco Women’s Association (SAFRAWOMA), Nagbalaye Women’s Association (NAWA), Caranoche Mangrove Community Association (CMCA), and Women’s Guba-Pasil Women’s Association; one from Bayawan, Pagatban United Small Fishermen’s Association (PUSFA); and those from Basay, including Brgy. Actin Fisherfolk Association, Cotcot Trawlers and Fisherfolks Association (CTFA), and Bongalonan Small Fishermen Association (BSFA). The three remaining POs couldn’t make it to the convention for personal reasons.

The convention also saw the presence of government representatives who came to support the event, including Karl Antone C. Mana-ay, Provincial Government of Negros Oriental – Environment and Natural Resources Division Coastal Resource Management staff; Engr. Viernov D. Gerfalde, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Negros Oriental officer-in-charge and PENR officer; and Forester Ariane Jane R. Balansag, PENRO Conservation & Development Section Project Evaluation Officer I.

Together with Manio were Jam Galvez, GCash Sustainability Manager – Social Inclusion, and Luzviminda Villanueva, Sage Ideas Inc. consultant for GCash, who gave a Financial Literacy talk in the afternoon.

Aside from Calumpong and Neri, also present at the event were Dr. Janet S. Estacion, IEMS director, and other IEMS faculty members, including Dr. Pablina L. Cadiz, Clint G. Alvior, and Dianne Mira A. Yap. Also in attendance were Rafael B. Nepomuceno, Scheide Farm manager, and Glynnis Jean C. Casiño, Strategic Partnership and Enterprise Development officer-in-charge.