By Diosa Marie Aguila-Aguirre
HAPI-Green Movement Ambassador
In celebration of World Food Day last October 16, HAPI-Green Movement organized a fruit-bearing tree planting event. Additionally, it partnered with PSSE-BatStateU SC’s Adopt-a-Tree program to hold a webinar and a tree planting contest.
As part of HAPI’s mission to push Environmental Humanism, HAPI-Green Movement joined forces with the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers-BatStateU-Students’ Chapter and the Environmental Management Unit of Pablo Borbon and Alangilan Campuses to plant fruit-bearing trees in Paharang East, Batangas City. But the occasion was not purely celebratory: our hope is that this activity could address some of the area’s problems in food access. With the success of HAPI-Green Movement’s previous tree-growing activity, the team also added mulch to that batch so that the trees could grow healthily.
The webinar, entitled “Home Gardening Techniques: How to make the most out of your growing space”, was conducted by guest speaker Mr. Herbert Bañados of BatStateU Lobo Campus on World Food Day (October 16). Mr. Bañados talked about the history of having plants at home, how to take care of those plants using safe products, and how to be efficient in planting space. After the talk, a Q&A session and games were done.
On average, about 57 participants attended the webinar, consisting of professionals, students, and HAPI members.
The HAPI Fruit-bearing Tree Planting Activity sought to educate the university’s stakeholders as well as provide assistance to selected beneficiaries of additional fruit-bearing trees in their area which will hopefully aid in environmental protection and food production. This program supported the Sustainable Development Goals No. 13 – Climate Action and No. 15 – Life on land.
Other partners for the three-day effort include the Environmental Management Unit, Pablo Borbon and Alangilan Campuses, the Civil Engineering Department, and the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers BatStateU Student Chapter (PSSE BatStateU SC). Additionally, the event was done in coordination with the Batangas City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and Office of the City Veterinary and Agricultural Services (OCVAS) for the chosen beneficiary/location of the activity.
