Cinnamon trees will soon thrive in Maragusan, Compostela Valley province as an environmental project of Comval 1st district Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora Apsay .
Guesting st the Club 888 forum, at The Marco Polo Davao last Wednesday, Apsay said she is setting aside P300,000 for the planting of such cinnamon trees as part of her Ika 11-11-11 Environmental Project launching last Nov. 11 at Purok Olivia, Barangay Mapawa, Maragusan, Comval. She will also be give away prizes to barangays that will adopt the project as part of the budget.
She added that she would like the launching day to symbolize environmental preservation, and that planting trees is a fitting representation of such concern.
Apsay admitted that cinnamon is not endemic in the area, but that it was the wish of the local government to be planted in its municipality.
Aside from citing cinnamon as a hard wood, she could not offhand say what the reason is behind the request. She had no specific target as to the number of trees to be planted during the Ika 11-11-11 launching, but cited it as part of the 1 billion-tree National Greening Program of President Benigno Aquino III.
Meanwhile, Apsay also allotted P500,000 for the medical outreach activity that will form part of the Ika 11-11-11 project launching.
Services offered during the pre-tree planting activity will include OBgyne services, Pap Smear, and Child Heartbeat Detection for Pregnant Women. There will also be medical screenings for diabetes, goiter, cysts; dental and eye services as well as massage therapy.
The Ika 11-11-11 project launching also offered free photography workshop on Nov. 10, for teachers and students involved in campus journalism. [PIA 11 JEAN D ABANGAN]
