For. Alexis John T. Fajardo, Forest Technician II
On March 14, 2025, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) conducted the Laguna Preliminary Volunteers’ Meeting for the 2025 Make It Makiling (MIM) at the Toyota Environment Education Theater (TEET) in the Makiling Botanic Gardens, CFNR, UPLB. The meeting was led by Forester Geine Joseph Esguerra, Chair of the 2025 MIM Steering Committee, alongside Co-chair For. Alexis John T. Fajardo and various committee heads.
The meeting gathered 18 volunteers from multiple organizations, including the UPLB Security and Safety Office, Laguna Provincial Mobile Force Company (LPMFC) – Bay, United Radio Organization and Communication (UROCOM), Calamba City People’s Council, UP Mussaenda Honor Society, Los Baños Rural Health Unit, Los Baños Disaster Risk Reduction Office, Los Baños Red Cross, RESCUEKIDZ, and barangay officials from Barangays Batong Malake and Bagong Silang.
The program started with a prayer, followed by opening remarks from For. Esguerra. For. Arnulfo D. Yanoria then facilitated a discussion on the roles and responsibilities of volunteers, covering key topics such as assigned stations, tourist entry flow, traffic management, restricted items, camping activities, and other essential logistics.
The meeting emphasized the collaborative efforts of all volunteers in ensuring the smooth and strategic implementation of the annual Lenten Visitors’ Management Program. It concluded with closing remarks from the 2025 MIM Co-chair, along with the announcement of the final volunteers’ meeting before the event.