QUEZON CITY, (PIA) –The regional office of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources in the National Capital Region recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Megaworld Corporation on the rollout of the Community PanTREE project.

The MOU was signed by DENR National Capital Region Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan and Megaworld Corporation Vice President and Head of Marketing and Business Development, Ms. Tefel Pesigan-Valentino.

Under the agreement, Megaworld will host and setup Community PanTree booths in their malls and distribute free seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and vegetable crops for distribution among interested patrons.

Eastwood Mall in Quezon City, Venice Grand Canal Mall at McKinley Hill, inTaguig City, and Arcovia Mall in Pasig City will be hosting the Community PanTREEs.

Those who want to avail of free seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and vegetables may visit said malls after the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila is lifted.

The Community PanTREE project is also the DENR NCR’s  contribution to assist efforts to assist Metro Manila residents deal with quarantine fatigue and food security, through urban gardening.

“We want to help people to be productive during these critical times, for them to have sustainable sources of food, and to minimize their pandemic-induced stress at the same time by encouraging them to plant and start nurturing nature,” Caancan said.

According to the DENR NCR chief, several studies have shown the positive effect of exposure to nature—to green vegetation in particular—in reducing stress.

“Being in the forest, hearing all the sounds that come from the forest—birds chirping, rustling leaves, gurgling brooks—the play of sunlight through the leaves, the fresh, clean air, all these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry,” Caancan said.

Having a garden, however small, is the closest we can get to simulate that feeling of being in the forest,” she added.

The project was first launched on April 22 during the celebration of Earth Day and has since been replicated in other regional office of DENR.

Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, Engr. Ignacio R. Almira Jr., Ms. Ma. Aurora D. Pastolero for Megaworld Corp. forester Arturo G. Calderon, Chief of the Production Forest Management Section (PFMS) were also present during the virtual ceremonial signing ceremony. (DENR NCR/PIA-NCR)