ARAYAT -- The local government here, led by Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino, recently held its annual tree planting activity in Mount Arayat.
Alejandrino, together with municipal employees, barangay officials and health workers, planted more than 100 seedlings around Mt. Arayat as part of the local government’s reforestation program.
The annul tree planting activity was launched by Alejandrino in 2014 as part of his commitment to revive the denuding forest of Mt. Arayat which once served as his “shelter.”
“Ang Mt. Arayat ay kayamanan hindi lamang ng aming bayan, kundi ng probinsyang Kapampangan. Ako bilang lider ng Arayat ay hinihikayat ang aking kabalen na protektahan ang Bundok Arayat sa pamamagitan tree planting dahil ito ay kayamanan at regalo ng kalikasan sa amin,” he said.
Aside from the government employees, the Mutya Ning Arayat 2017 candidates also participated in the eco-tourism project.
Alejandrino said that the commitment of the candidates in protecting and preserving the environment is part of the criteria for judging in the annual local pageantry.
“Hindi lang basta maganda at matalino ang hinahanap namin, gusto namin ‘yung may pagmamahal sa kalikasan dahil aanhin pa ang ganda at talino kung wala nang kalikasan na lilingap sayo,” he said.
Since 2014, Alejandrino said that more than 2,000 seedlings of different kinds were planted in Mt. Arayat through the tree planting activity.
Some of the planted trees are now serving their purpose of preventing erosion at the foot of the mountain, as well as help avert flooding in Arayat and other nearby towns in the province, Alejandrino said.