Sunflowers at the University of the Philippines' Diliman campus - and soon, flowering trees at its Los Baños campus.
UPLB has partnered with GXchange, Inc., the operator of the mobile payment app GCash, as it launched its UPLB Native Flowering Tree for Sustainable Urban Landscape Program last August 20.
The event was marked by the initial planting of trees at a designated garden area beside the Nora C. Quebral Hall, attended by university officials led by Chancellor Jose Camacho, Jr. and representatives from GXchange.
As part of the ceremonial activity, Camacho planted a salingogon seedling, a native flowering tree most notable for its clusters of small pink flowers and often compared to Japanese cherry blossoms.
The program was proposed and led by Associate Professor Marlo Mendoza, dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), in partnership with GXchange, Inc. under its in-app feature GForest.
GForest enables GCash users to turn everyday digital transactions into real-world tree-planting and reforestation efforts.
According to Mendoza, the project was inspired by "hanami," or "flower viewing" parks in Japan, where parkgoers can enjoy the transient beauty of flowers.
Several strategic locations inside UPLB, both in the lower and upper campus, were identified for the project.
Camacho expressed his gratitude to GXchange, Inc. for their unwavering support for UPLB’s tree-planting projects, particularly in providing the materials necessary for tree-planting. He also commended Dean Mendoza for turning this project proposal into reality.
Professor Rossana Marie Amongo, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, emphasized that OVCPD will conduct an inventory and map existing trees in the University campus to complement the native flowering tree project.
(OpinYon News Team)
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