All schools in this province under Department of Education (DepEd) supervision will take part in a simultaneous tree-planting activity on Dec. 6 in compliance with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s instruction for each school to plant at least five trees during the holidays.

In a memorandum issued on Wednesday, Maria Luisa Servando, Oriental Mindoro’s Schools Division superintendent, told campus administrators to seek the advice of their community/municipal environment and natural resources office (CENRO/MENRO) in determining where best to plant the trees in their areas.

She also instructed school authorities to coordinate with their respective CENRO/MENRO for the provision of seedlings to be planted at a desired location, such as mangrove and forest land.

Servando said the tree planting drive would represent the province’s contribution to the department’s initiative, called “DepEd’s 236,000 Trees – A Christmas Gift for the Children.”

The ultimate goal of the DepEd initiative is to spearhead the planting of at least 236,000 seedlings nationwide during the Christmas season.

“This project serves as a gift from the department to ensure a clean and green environment for Filipino children and future generations,” Servando said, citing a DepEd memorandum.

She was referring to a memorandum dated Nov. 17, which states that the reforestation activity intends to provide “a unique educational opportunity for students to actively participate in tree-planting activities, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental issues and promoting conservation efforts.”

“Through hands-on learning and practical application of environmental concepts, students will develop a strong sense of responsibility towards the environment,” the DepEd memo also said. (PNA)