More Coconuts in the News

Marianas Variety, Monday, July 10, 2006

Despite bad weather, volunteers plant 250 coconut trees
By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

DESPITE the bad weather yesterday, members of Beautify CNMI and other volunteers still achieved their goal of planting 250 coconut trees along Beach Road.

Members of Beautify CNMI headed by Rep. Cinta M. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan; Tina Sablan of the Division of Environmental Quality; and Angelo Villagomez of the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council were joined by 14 volunteers from MOVER, a Filipino organization, and nine other individuals.

The group started planting coconut trees along Beach Road between the Saipan Gold Beach Hotel and the Garapan Fishing Base starting at 8 a.m.

Villagomez, the coral reef public involvement coordinator of the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, said the 250 coconut trees were donated by volunteers Eugenio Sablan, Jack Sablan, Abden Kaipat, Joe Hibus and Jerry Facey.

Villagomez said he also collected coconut trees from his father’s house, the late Justice Ramon Villagomez.

The group’s next “target area” is the revegetation site in Laolao.

Villagomez said they will be joined by personnel of DEQ, Coastal Resources Management, Forestry and other volunteers.

The group will meet on Sunday at 8 a.m. at the Santa Soledad Church in Kagman and from there they will drive to the big blue water tank and hike to the revegetation site.

The group started planting trees on June 19 along Beach Road as part of their objective to restore the natural beauty of the island.

Yesterday, besides planting trees, the group also conducted a cleanup drive along Beach Road.

Villagomez said someone left a big pile of trash next to the 13 Fishermen’s pavilion and the rain, wind and dogs had scattered garbage all over the park and the beach.

Aside from the volunteers from MOVER headed by their president, Maritess Castillo, the other individuals who helped plant trees were Gus Kaipat, Capt. Carl Brachear, Juanita Fajando, Adam Sablan, Emily Gironda, Corie Borja, Bob Schwalbach, Glen Hunter, Jed Horey, Josiah Lizama and Sid Cabrerra.