CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – All roads will lead to Barangay Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal on September 17 for the Calabarzon leg of the nationwide “plant-run” in celebration of the Civil Service Month.

Also a key event during the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA), the Civil Service Commission will conduct the simultaneous tree-planting activity across 16 regions nationwide.

CSC chairperson Karlo Alexie Nograles said the plant run will demonstrate civil servants’ proactive approach in addressing environmental issues in the country.

"During the flag ceremony, all civil servants raise their right hand and pledge their commitment to being environmentally conscious. That's why the CSC thought of turning the traditional fun run that we have every Civil Service Month into a plant-run," he said on Usapang PIA, a radio program hosted by the Philippine Information Agency IV-A.

The plant-run is a combination of a fun run and tree planting where participants, primarily civil servants and their families, are encouraged to plant trees after the fun run.

"This means that it's not just a run for the sake of running. The end goal of the fun run is to plant a tree. Our objective is to have all our civil servants and their families plant as many trees as possible," Nograles added.

The CSC chief also recognized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their support in providing the seedlings for the greening program.

"We [CSC] are truly grateful to the DENR because they are our partners in this endeavor. The source of our seedlings is from the DENR, and we know that tree planting and greening programs are part of their mandate. The CSC fully supports the DENR in this regard," he said.

Interested participants may directly contact their respective regional offices of the CSC for more information about the activity, or visit the CSC's social media pages or official website to register and be part of the event. Registrants are required to pay a minimum fee of P550.

Apart from the plant-run, other activities of the commission include Dugtong Buhay, Handog ng Lingkod Bayan bloodletting activity, public symposiums, government online career fair, among others.

Discounts and other benefits for civil servants also await them in participating establishments and shops. (AM/PIA-4A)