AT LEAST 4,000 seedlings of indigenous variety, including narra, were planted in Sitio Muruk, Pasonanca, on June 25 in celebration of "Arbor Day na Zamboanga."

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led the mass tree planting at the 1.7-hectare protected area and source of potable water for Zamboanga City.

Dr. Eduardo Bisquera, assistant City Environment and Natural Resources officer, said Muruk is the planting site this year to ensure water retention ability of the area "and the only way for the water to retain is through the root system of the trees."

Bisquera said the 1.7-hectare area is part of the 10 hectares of protected area in Muruk that was turned over to the City Government by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for enrichment planting.

The area is jointly maintained by the City Government through the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), DENR and the Zamboanga City Water District.

Gerry Pollisco, OCENR's Natural Resources Division chief, said the Arbor Day tree planting is considered "enrichment planting to return back natural vegetation as well as to replace fast growing species like gemelina and mahogany."

The tree planting activity was participated by the different government agencies, organizations and institutions. (SunStar Philippines)