National Treasures! MinDA SEEKS PASSAGE OF LAW TO PROTECT ‘HERITAGE TREES’

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has passed a resolution urging Congress to enact a law which would protect centuries old trees not only in Mindanao but the whole country.

The MinDA resolution, presented by Board Member Sherwin Mylil Begyan in the last MinDA Board meeting, was an offshoot of the controversy involving an attempt by infrastructure developers in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur to fell a 300-year-old towering Toog Tree to give way to a road widening.

The attempt angered local residents who called on their local leaders to protect the Toog Tree calling it a heritage which must be preserved and protected for the next generations.

The residents, headed by a retired public works engineer Mauro Bravo formed the advocacy group STOP (Save The Toog Tree Please) succeeded in stopping two attempts to cut down the tree.

“The Heritage Trees are our links to the past when Mindanao teemed with Centuries-old hardwoods,” Begyan said.

“The next generation of Mindanaoans must be given the chance to see these giant trees,” Board Member Begyan said.

The proposed “Heritage Tree Act” seeks stiff penalties and jail terms for any person who will endanger or damage the centuries old trees.

#WeAreGuardiansOfNature!

(Photos of the Toog tree downloaded from public websites while the image of the MinDA Resolution was taken by Kath Bahinting.)