𝐏𝐒𝐀𝐔-𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐒𝐨𝐜 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥'𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠; 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 '𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐠' 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

Armed with determination and strong calling for environmental protection and preservation, the PSAU Biology Society (PSAU-BioSoc) took part in 'DELTAnim' project initiated by the provincial capitol at Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape and kicked off their 'Ilog aking Irog' stream bank rehabilitation project at San Roque, Magalang last September 30 and October 1, respectively.

As part of the Mt. Arayat Forest Rehabilitation and the SANGDAANG PAG-ASA movement of PSAU-BioSoc, the tree planting activity of the provincial capitol was graced by the BioSoc officers and adviser, Department of Biology faculty members, and Biology students.

"BioSoc strives to involve students in more tangible projects such as environmental protection. These projects aimed to inculcate to students the importance of their role, the youth in saving mother earth," Nathaniel Supan, BioSoc adviser, said in an interview when asked about the goal of the activity.

The activity commenced with a prayer led by Engr. Paul Hedson P. Dizon, followed by an opening remark from Engr. Arthur F. Punsalan, and a demonstration of proper tree planting by Mr. Peter Fajardo from Provincial Government - Environmental and Natural Resource Office (PG-ENRO).

After a short briefing and introduction of the activity, the participants went to the site to begin the tree planting. The capitol provided an accumulatively 300 seedling of various fruit-bearing trees like langka, kasoy, and guyabano.

Supan also mentioned the relevance of activity to the worsening climate change thus, tree planting and growing efforts save not just the environment but also the next generations.

"[T]hese types of activities will help in the conservation of the environment where the activity took place. Planting right trees will provide biodiversity to the location and also habitat to different animal species. Through this, it will also encourage the ecological growth in that area," Jeanabel Ramos, a student who participated in the activity, said in an interview.

Moreover, the Provincial Capitol and PG-ENRO also formally announced its collaboration with the institution regarding the implementation, observation, and sustentation of the project.

Similarly, last September 14, several 2nd and 3rd year Biology students went to Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape for the second installment of the rehabilitation project.

Meanwhile, PSAU-BioSoc also began its first stream bank rehabilitation led by project proponents — MS Biology students.

Accompanied by Dr. Rafael R. Rafael, PSAU's Director for Planning and Project Development, the BioSoc officers, National Service Training Program-Citizens Welfare and Training Services (NSTP-CWTS) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) section representatives, and MS Biology students went at San Roque, Magalang to plant bamboos along the river bank.

The activity began with a short briefing about the subject piloted by Frienchie Ann B. Yamauchi, MS Biology student. It was then followed by a welcoming remark of Hon. June Marimla, barangay captain, and an opening remark by Albert P. Bais from Municipal Environmental and Natural Resource Office of Magalang.

"Saving our world from environmental problems doesn't require an individual's profession nor an educational attainment to help in any way. Thus, striving for our natural environment progress only requires our genuine care and a great will to make great changes," Mark Jade Dela Cruz, a NSTP student, said in an interview after the activity.

Further, NSTP students from CAS led the river clean-up drive before transporting the bamboo in the designated planting site along with the MS Biology students, barangay officials, and society officers. After that, a seminar about bamboo livelihood was held inside the premises of the barangay hall; stating the importance, methods to propagate, and byproducts through guest speaker, Sharmane Villanueva, a PSAU instructor.

"Magandang umaattend sa ganitong mga activity para magkaroon ng meaning ang ating mga paghihirap sa pag-aaral [at] yung ating paghihirap sa paggawa ng researches kasi doon sa mga struggles [at] sa nga pagtitiyaga natin, ito yung [n]agiging impact natin," Dr. Rafael stated after the seminar session.

Supan ended the activity by announcing the future activities of the society and encouraging students to continuously support the activities and projects.

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𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘰
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺 PSAU Biology Society