ARAYAT, Pampanga -- Yesterday’s Arbor Day observance has brought in 100 government personnel at the slopes of Mt. Arayat as they planted 500 seedlings in a bid to reduce air pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The government personnel were from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The DENR said that more than some 500 Narra and Paitan seedlings were planted on the slopes of Mt. Arayat.
According to officers of the DENR here, the activity allowed the participants to conduct maintenance and protection activities on the trees planted last September 2018 as part of the 118th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service.
The observance of Philippine Arbor Day every June 25 was institutionalized in 2004 through Proclamation No. 643. The day has been set aside for the conduct of tree planting activities to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people through the rehabilitation and re-greening of the environment.
The activity was also a part of the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month this June, with the theme “Beat Air Pollution”.
CSF conducts greening program at Civic Center
Meanwhile, more than 300 caballero, palm, and malunggay trees were planted in the City of San Fernando (CSF) Civic Center in Barangay San Isidro as part of the city’s greening program in the area.
The tree-planting activity, spearheaded by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), in partnership with City Agriculture and Veterinary Office, was participated by several CSF-LGU heads of offices and personnel.
It was also staged in time for the observance of Philippine Arbor Day.
According to Maria Regina Rodriguez, CENR officer, the greening program was the initial project of the city government for the development of a recreational area, the City Park.
“Itong greening program natin sa City Civic Center, pilot project pa lang natin kasi may ide-develop rin tayong City Park dito. Yung aim ng project na ito ay para gawing maganda at sustainable ang Civic Center,” said Rodriguez.
The planted trees, Rodriguez added, will be maintained by the office’s composting center and are expected to be fully-grown at the end of the year or early next year.
Mayor Edwin Santiago, who also planted a tree during the activity, meanwhile remarked that “now is the right time to be one with the national government in its environmental efforts.”
“Arbor Day is being participated by all LGUs and we are proud na isa tayo sa mga lokal na gobyerno na sumusuporta sa adhikaing ito. Ngayon na yung tamang oras para makiisa tayo at gawin natin ang part natin dahil ang pagtatanim, it will help us in many ways. It will prolong our lives and will help us fight climate change,” Santiago said.
Philippine Arbor Day is observed across the nation every June 25 through planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities “in a bid to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people.”