THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Zamboanga Peninsula led various stakeholders and individuals in joining the nationwide simultaneous tree-planting activity on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in celebration of Philippine Bamboo Month.
The DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula said in a statement that a total of 3,050 bamboo and indigenous seedlings were planted by 539 participants from agency, peoples organization, local government units, police, military, academe and private companies in different locations across the region.
The activity was led by the DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula and its offices in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City.
The DENR said the tree planting activity was simultaneously held in the following areas: Tipan, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Butong, Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Upper La Paz, Zamboanga City; Sigacad, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur; Duelic, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; New Tangub, Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte; Simplicio Cabral, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; Linay, Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte; and, Kipit, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte.
A total of 2,558 giant bamboo and 492 indigenous species were utilized for planting, such as Lumbayao, White Lauan, Almaciga, Yakal and Nato.
The DENR said that most of the seedlings were propagated at the regional Modernized Mechanized Forest Nursery in Baclay, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur and established nurseries in the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices.
The DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula, together with its partners and stakeholders, will continue to monitor the growth of these planted trees and promote tree growing activities, as well as other environmental actions to encourage everyone to participate in building a sustainable future for all.
The tree-planting activity is to raise awareness to the various benefits of bamboo and realize the contributions of bamboo in supporting national economic and social development, according to the DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula.
The activity also supports the socio-economic agenda of President Marcos with a tagline “LAB for all: Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan”. (SunStar Zamboanga)