‘Pyesta sa Kakahuyan’ 2012 set in Tubungan

THIS year’s “Pyesta sa Kakahuyan” will be held in the municipality of Tubungan.

Already on its 13th year, the massive tree planting activity institutionalized by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. during his previous term as governor is scheduled on September 15.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) chief Soledad Sucaldito said the tree planting in Tubungan will only be ceremonial as simultaneous tree planting activities will be held in other parts of the province.

Sucaldito said they have already started sending invitations to different schools and public and private offices who will be participating in the tree planting activity.

She said around 10,000 seedlings will be planted in Tubungan for the ceremonial activity.

After the tree planting, there will be a program at the Tubungan covered gym where there will be a lecture on the impact of climate change on the environment.

There will also be an exhibit of programs and projects of the different stakeholders at the covered gym, as well as display and marketing of agricultural products from Tubungan and Igbaras.

“Pyesta sa Kakahuyan” has been made part of the Defensor administration’s one million trees program dubbed as Action for Regreening and Transformation (ART).

Last year, Iloilo province exceeded the one million trees target as around 1.3 million trees were planted provincewide with the help of various agencies and volunteer groups.

On September 22, there will also be a mangrove planting activity in Dumangas, Iloilo.

This complementary project dubbed as Artificial Reefs for Transformation (ART 2) attempts to complete the ridge to reef loop and is envisioned to be implemented in the 22 coastal municipalities of Iloilo.

The ART 2 project includes coastal resource assessment, coral reef survey, alternative livelihood, policy formulation, enforcement of laws and ordinances, and strengthening of coastal alliances. (PR)