THE Zamboanga City Government, through the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), will spearhead a tree planting initiative in line with the nationwide observance of Arbor Day on Monday, June 25.

The tree planting activity will be held at the Pasonanca Natural Park at Sitio Murok in the village of Pasonanca.

Gerry Pollisco, chief of the environment and natural resources division of OCENR, said the tree planting activity is consistent with Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar’s priority program for the massive reforestation of this city’s watershed area.

Pollisco said that entry of vehicles and human activity into the natural park will be regulated during the tree planting activity.

“The reason why we will regulate the entry of vehicles as the Pasonanca Natural Park is a protected area,” he explained.

He said the participants will first convene at the Cesar Climaco Freedom Park where those with vehicles will secure a gate pass to the planting site.

Meanwhile, he said the OCENR has also arranged for several vehicles to take participants without transportation to and from the protected area. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)