Mindanao’s spirit working
“A MINDANAO that is green, its waters teeming with life and its people producing food the natural way, at peace with nature and each other.” That is how a group of businessmen, educators and government officials collectively dream for Mindanao’s future as they formed an organization that aims to help consolidate programs and projects for Mindanao’s environmental and agricultural sustainability. Ibs Turabin, who hails from Basilan and chair of the EarthSoul Solutions, Inc., said they are about to take a big step in their mission to help integrate efforts and facilitate implementation of environmental protection programs of government, corporate organizations , NGO’s , communities and private persons in order to achieve synergies and optimum results. EarthSoul Solutions is spearheading the First Mindanaonon Environmental Summit which will be held April 20 to 22 at the Kadayawan Hall of the NCCC Mall in Maa, Davao City. The summit will be preceded by a Green Caravan which will start simultaneously on April 17 from four points in Mindanao - Zamboanga City, Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro City and Surigao City, converging in Davao City on April 19. He said several other activities are lined up during the summit which actually coincides with the Earth Day Celebrations. On-the-spot painting contest for elementary and high school students and a trade fair on organic products and farm equipment will be held as well, Turabin said. During the summit, EarthSoul will be giving awards to local government units and individual perons for outstanding performance in environmental protection and organic agriculture. Businesswoman Josephine Gamboa-Lim, president of EarthSoul Solutions, said they hope to formulate a Mindanao Environment Protocol during the summit, which will help guide government, business, communities and individuals in protecting the environment and organic agriculture. The summit will feature experts who will be discussing topics on climate change, other environmental issues as well as organic agriculture. There will also be resource speakers who will share their best practices on environmental protection and organic farming. Ed Cejar, corporate secretary of the organization, said the various activities during the Mindanaonon Environment Summit and Green Caravan are in keeping with the primary advocacies of EarthSoul Solutions that calls for natural reforestation using endemic plants and agro-forestry for carbon sequestration, watershed rehabilitation and management, home and industry waste reduction and low-cost waste disposal and recycling technology. Also in the advocacies of EarthSoul Solutions include the propagation of organic food crops, poultry, live stock and aquaculture, reviving and improving indigenous food crops and farming practices including SALT, mangrove rehabilitation and protection, designation and protection of marine sanctuaries, access of farmers to organic farming technology, access of fisher folks to organic aqua-culture technology. The other officers of EarthSoul Solutions include Hamda Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur as vice-president, Jack Kanda of General Santos City as trasurer. The organization has designated five environment zones in Mindanao with the following as directors: Dr. Jarmila Ballaho and Sammy Simbahon for Envi Zone 1 : Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga provinces, Zamboanga City; Neil Abejuela and Hamda Dimaporo for Zone 2: Lanao provinces, Misamis provinces, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City; Ben Figueroa and Datu Oskie Mohammad Zone 3—SOCSKSARGEN Region, Maguindanao, Cotabato City; Andry Lim and Dr. Frank de la Pena Zone 4—Davao Provinces, Compostela Valley, Davao City; Eric Calo and RJ Ranario for Zone 5—Agusan Provinces, Surigao provinces, Dinagat Island, Butuan City, Surigao City. ■ | MINDANAO'S ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO THE WORLD'S ENVIRONMENT. COME AND JOIN THE SUMMIT AND CARAVAN.
LEARN AS WELL AS SHARE YOUR IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN BEST PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND NURTURE MOTHER EARTH.
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