Camp General Artemio Ricarte, Puerto Princesa City— With the growing concern on global warming, the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CRSAFP) undertakes yet another mission: mitigate its effects by “going green” through its tree-growing program.

Personnel of the 6th Civil Relations Group (6th CRG) of CRSAFP immediately took on the mission by planting various fruit-bearing trees around its headquarters at the Western Command (WESCOM) to complete the first two (2) phases of the program.

Under the directive of Commander, CRSAFP MGEN ROLANDO B TENEFRANCIA AFP, the program will be undertaken in three phases and will cover the period from June 8 to August 31, 2012.

“I intend to make a substantial and significant impact not only towards addressing the adverse effects of global warming and climate change but more importantly in generating a concerted effort to address this global concern,” MGEN TENEFRANCIA AFP said in his directive.

The first phase of the program includes raising the awareness of CRS personnel through education and program orientation. This is followed by the actual tree-planting activity.

The 6th CRG, CRSAFP has already completed the first two phases of the program through a lecture, conducted by its Group Commander MAJ JOSEPH D BUGAOAN PA, at its headquarters before the group’s personnel proceeded to plant trees.

MAJ BUGAOAN PA highlighted the pressing concern of global warming and the need to undertake measures to address this issue.

The group is now working to complete the third phase of the program which widens its scope to include encouraging the participation of different individuals, groups and organizations.

To realize this phase, the group will hold advocacy campaign to gain popular support for the program.

The recently held annual Feast of the Forest (Pista y Ang Kagueban), Puerto Princesa City’s massive tree-planting activity, has successfully provided the group a broader venue to implement the tree-growing program.

The 6th CRG alone has been able to plant about 80 mahogany saplings during the event, which was also participated by the personnel of WESCOM, Naval Forces West (NFW), 570th Composite Tactical Wing (CTW), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard, the City Government and various government units, students from different schools and colleges and other stakeholders at Irawan Watershed, Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City.

“With this program, we will be able to project the relevance and collective commitment of this Service (CRSAFP) to the environment,” MGEN TENEFRANCIA AFP said.