The DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (DOLE-ZSFO) personnel joined 72 Tulong Pang-hanapbuhaypara saAting Disadvantaged (TUPAD) workers on a mangrove-planting activity last July 21, 2016 at Bulong, Barangay Batu, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Headed by Chief LEO Imelda F. Gatinao, the ZSFO staff and 72 TUPAD workers of Batu Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO) from Batu, Siay, who wore their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) of green long-sleeved shirt and buri hat, have planted about 400 mangroves in the coastline areas of Siay. They have planted around 300 bakhawpropagules and 100 pagatpatseedlings on the mangrove swamps.

The mangrove-planting activity was part of the Green Our Dole Program (GODP) of DOLE which aims to engage employees and labor partners in green issues and mitigate solutions on climate change for a clean, safe and sustainable environment and the implementation of TUPAD program which aims to provide emergency employment to indigent and displaced workers who are affected by the El Ni�o.

In the statement of Gatinao, she emphasized, �the restoration of mangrove forests is a very good environment conservation tool. While we cannot immediately bring back destroyed coast lines to their pristine states, DOLE through GODP looks at the welfare of fisherfolks who will benefit from an improved marine sanctuary.�

Meanwhile, the Zamboanga Peninsula Federation of Family Welfare Committee, Inc. (ZamPen FFWCI) and DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay have planted not just goma(rubber) but gugma(love)during the rubber tree-planting activity at GARBEMCO in Barangay Goodyear, Kabasalan, ZamboangaSibugay on April 4, 2016.

The activity was in-line with the implementation of Environment Protection, Hygiene and Sanitation; one of the dimensions of Family Welfare Program (FWP), a non-wage benefit introduced by DOLE to establishments with 200 or more workers. The dimension seeks to inculcate the importance of a clean and conducive environment to workers and their families.

GARBEMCO, led by General Manager Lilia Manuel, has taught the participants how to plant rubber trees. She began by removing the polybag from the rubber seedling. As she planted the rubber seedling, she highlighted that its body must follow the direction of the sea for it to grow effectively.

After the tree-planting, the participants were able to tour around the rubber plantation and had a free taste of GARBEMCO�s delectable durian.

The activity was the highlight of the two-day ZamPen FFWCI�s Gender Mainstreaming and Strategic Planning Workshop which was held on August 4-5, 2016 at Roderics Resort, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. The participants were representatives from different establishments of Region 9: Zamboanga Sibugay: Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO), Tambanan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TARBEMCO), Philippine Pioneer Rubber Product Corporation (PPRPC), Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO) II, Aurora Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AimCoop), Katipunan Bank, Odyssey Motors; Zamboanga Del Norte: Katipunan Bank, Saint Vincent College, Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) Dipolog; Zamboanga del Sur: ZAMSURECO I, RTMI - Pagadian, and Southern Mindanao Colleges; Zamboanga City: Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC), Goldstar Canning Corporation, and Isabela City: Basilan Electric Cooperative, Inc.(BASELCO), United Workers Agrarian Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UWARBMPC) and Claret College of Isabela. The two-day activity was graced by DOLE IX Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano.

Joni SarinaMejico