CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) - - The One Movement Inc. (OMI), together with the provincial government through the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office (PNREO), recently held the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremony for the 8th Kick-off of “One Movement, One Million Trees and Bamboos to Protect the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.”

The event which was held at the Forestry 101 Building here was participated by 500 individuals from OMI and from the different offices of the provincial government and national government agencies.

Marlon L. Mendoza, MOI chairperson said they aim to plant 1,000,000 trees along the mountain range of Sierra Madre to protect and conserve the backbone of Luzon that serves as natural barrier against typhoons.

“The movement has been successful in the seven provinces in the country such as Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Aurora, Quezon,” Mendoza said.

He explained that the OMI is a non-government organization that is aligned with the climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The groundbreaking or kick-off will end in Cagayan in preparation for the grand launch on September 13, 2023, during the birthday celebration of President Marcos,” Mendoza said.

On the other hand, former representative and now Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson Junie E. Cua said Quirino, together with Nueva Vizcaya, has a critical role as the two provinces supply the water requirement of the Cagayan Valley.

He assured that the province will always be committed to ensure the sustainability and viability of watershed as he expressed his pleasure to join the one movement believing that this drive is to unite the nation.

A tree planting activity at the Balitbitan Peak, Capitol Hills was also held where a total of 1,300 forest and fruit tree seedlings were planted. (TCB/PIA Quirino)