Division sets date for annual tree planting and environmental drive

DepEd Ozamiz has released the schedule for its annual tree planting and environmental activity, drawing interest from school heads, teaching personnel, and parent-volunteers. The notice confirms the calendar, assembly points, and assigned planting zones for the day.

The activity aligns with the Department of Education's mandate to embed environmental consciousness in basic education. It also gives learners a hands-on platform to understand biodiversity, watershed protection, and the role of native flora in climate resilience.

This year's programme has been broadened to include more private schools, barangay partners, and advocacy groups, a move that strengthens the division's sustainability agenda. Several feeder schools have already confirmed delegations, reflecting recognition that ecological restoration requires sustained cooperation.

Schedule, venue, and assembly details

The activity is set for Saturday, 25 October 2025, with assembly at the DepEd Ozamiz Division Office grounds at 6:00 AM. A short programme, light breakfast, and briefing will precede the convoy to the planting sites. Vehicles are expected to depart by 7:00 AM to take advantage of cooler morning hours.

The convoy will head to two zones identified with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office: a two-hectare buffer along a tributary in the upland barangays, and a coastal mangrove strip.

In Australia, comparable mass plantings follow a similar early-morning rhythm, from National Tree Day events organised by Planet Ark in suburban Sydney to bushcare days along the Mornington Peninsula. The advice to arrive early and stay hydrated is shared by volunteer groups in Brisbane and Perth.

Activities lined up for the day

The morning will begin with site preparation, hole digging, and sapling distribution. After the ceremonial planting by division officials, the delegation will spread across pre-marked rows, each cluster assigned a foreman from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Mid-morning will feature a short environmental learning circle, where master teachers and resource persons will discuss native species identification, mulching, and aftercare. Learners will record observations in field journals, mirroring inquiry-based nature programmes popular in South Australian and Victorian schools.

The programme will close with a community picnic, a tree-counting tally, and the symbolic turnover of stewardship to the host barangay. Participants will receive certificates signed by the Schools Division Superintendent.

Tree species and planting zones

The division, with the DENR regional office, has curated a species list suited to local conditions. Seedlings of narra, molave, and ipil will dominate the upland buffer, while bakauan, pagatpat, and other mangrove propagules will be planted along the coastal strip. Each was chosen for carbon-sequestration potential and pest resistance.

Saplings have been raised in the division's communal nursery and partner nurseries run by private schools. The mix has shifted slightly from last year, with greater emphasis on endemic trees to support local bird and insect populations, mirroring the native-only reforestation approach championed by Greening Australia.

Planting zones will be geotagged using a simple grid system, allowing follow-up monitoring over twelve months. Schools adopting specific plots will return quarterly for maintenance and growth assessment.

Volunteer roles and partner agencies

The activity depends on dozens of partner agencies and hundreds of volunteers. The division has called on teaching and non-teaching personnel, learners from Grade 5 to Senior High School, parents, alumni, and civil society groups. Each cluster will receive a registration code.

Partner agencies include the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Philippine National Police for traffic and security, the local health unit for first aid, and host barangay councils. The General Services Unit handles logistics, while the Records Section manages administrative paperwork, including transcript of records requests for personnel needing updated credentials.

Volunteer orientations have been conducted in clustered districts, mirroring the decentralised approach used by Landcare groups in regional New South Wales, where local hubs coordinate planting days across multiple catchments.

Health, safety, and weather protocols

A health and safety plan has been developed with the City Health Office and the division's School Health Section. First aid stations will be set up at both sites, with two ambulance units on standby. Participants must wear closed footwear, hats, long-sleeved shirts, and bring at least one litre of water.

Weather monitoring will run from assembly through close of activity. In case of heavy rain or a typhoon signal, the event will be postponed to the following Saturday, with announcements posted on the official portal and school group chats. Safety always takes precedence over schedule.

Participants with pre-existing medical conditions are encouraged to inform their school health coordinator in advance, a standard precaution at community planting events in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, where volunteer welfare is closely tracked by event marshals.

Documenting attendance and coordination with schools

School heads must submit delegation lists through the division's online portal at least three working days before the activity. Attendance will be logged via biometric and document tracking systems linked to regional and national DepEd platforms. Schools with incomplete submissions may be rescheduled to a catch-up planting the following week.

After the activity, each school will submit a brief narrative and photo documentation to the Public Affairs Unit for consolidation into a division report shared with the Regional Office. Teachers may count participation toward in-service training hours, subject to existing division guidelines.

Mark the date, gather your delegation, and prepare your tools early. Whether you are a school head finalising paperwork, a teacher looking forward to a meaningful Saturday, or a community partner ready to lend time and equipment, your presence will help turn the schedule into a living, growing legacy across Ozamiz City.