Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 9 (DOLE RO 9) Regional Director Sisinio B. Cano together with the OIC Field Office Head of DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office, Sr. LEO Elamsalih E. Ungad were beaming with pride as they stride in the limelight to receive the Green Champion Award for DOLE-Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office (DOLE- ZSFO) as one of the top five best implementers of the "Green Our DOLE Program" in the 80 agencies, offices and bureaus under the DOLE. The ceremony was held during the 80th DOLE Anniversary Celebration at Ichikawa Hall, Occupation Safety and Health Center in Quezon City. The award was conferred by no less than the Secretary of Labor and Employment, Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

On the other hand, DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Office in partnership with the Zamboanga Sibugay Federation of Family Welfare Committees conducted a tree planting activity and orientation on Green Productivity last December 9, 2013 at GARBEMCO, Goodyear, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The DOLE -ZSFO is consistent on its advocacy of promoting environmental sustainability by conducting tree planting activities every year. This year, the site of the planting activity was in the riverbank of Banker River in the peripheries of GARBEMCO's rubber plantation area. Workers and management of GARBEMCO together with DOLE-ZSFO staff planted seedlings of Gemelina along the riverbanks to prevent soil erosion and to help mitigate global climate change. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Forestry Specialist, Mr. George Laolao, gave an orientation on the importance and economic benefits of tree planting as a strategy to combat climate change. He stressed that rubber trees are now considered as one of the species for forest rehabilitation initiatives, especially in Mindanao. He also encouraged everyone to participate in the National Greening Program of the DENR.

Meanwhile, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 9 (RTWPB-9) representative Senior Labor and Employment Officer Mrs. Rose Amsid gave an orientation on Green Productivity, a new concept that is being promoted by RTWPB to simultaneously enhance productivity and environmental performance for over-all socio-economic development that leads to improvement in the quality of life. The session aimed to heighten awareness of the management and workers of the 6 member rubber-cooperatives of FAARMCO on the practical strategy of increasing productivity while protecting the environment simultaneously.

Edyll Grace P. Poligrates, DOLE- ZSFO