Diwas reports on 3rd Saleng Festival, environmental conseration activities push on
Even as the four-month Saleng festival ends, eco-consciousness and sustainability lectures, awareness, aggressive information and education campaign on climate change, sustainability and resiliency, and tree planting go on.
This was mentioned by City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) head Atty Rhenan Diwas during the management committee meeting with Mayor Benjamin Magalong, City Administrator Engr. Bonifacio de la Pena and department heads present.
Diwas reported that from June to September, from the Busol and Botanical garden nurseries, 12,850 seedlings were disposed of, with a hundred pine tree variety planted in Dorencio Elementary School, Tublay and a thousand seedlings donated to LGU Kapangan, both in Benguet. These, as Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier vowed assistance to re-greening and reforestation programs in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) and surrounding LGUs.
“Good air quality knows no borders nor boundaries,” the mayor earlier said, as among other uses, trees are planted to absorb Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and release precious Oxygen (O) for flora and fauna existence.
As of Sept. 30, there are 61 groups;14 academic, 12 government offices, 7 companies, 28 private and advocacy groups that planted 11,740 seedlings of various tree varieties; with more contingents enlisting with intentions to regreen the city.
Upon hearing this, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Millicent Carino informed the body that personnel from her office shall keep on planting and nurturing trees to enhance parks and forests, and the city’s four watersheds.
Our office’ five-year planting plan ensures a higher number of tree survivability, Carino said.
Another Saleng program, the Community pan-TREE involves the giving out of pine, ornamental and fruit trees for planting in open areas, small parks and private properties; thus encouraging city dwellers to take an active role in environmental conservation, and promote sustainability.
In June, a choir contest dubbed as, “Rhythm and Harmony with Nature,” brought out young blended voices which won the Pines City National (PCNHS), Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) and Philippine Science High School (PiSci), first, second and third prizes respectively with trophies and cash prizes. Other schools including Easter College, Berkeley, and Madaymen National High School, from Kibungan, Benguet also performed at the Baguio Cultural and Convention Center, with family, environmentalists and supporters as audience.
Also in June, and with more than 70 participants; creativity and the use of indigenous materials in forest and landscape presentations were witnessed in a tree cart parade from Upper Session Road down to the Rose Garden, Burnham Park where they were displayed for some time. The winners were Zaparita’s Garden; Wood, Rock and Flowers Group, and Easter College Inc, in first, second and third place respectively.
In the academe level, from June to September; an eco-consciousness and sustainability lecture series were done at University of Baguio (UB), University of the Philippines (UP), Baguio Central University (BCU), University of the Cordilleras; with students’ proposed solutions on the city’s environmental problems as output. The lectures were given by CEPMO Assistant head Engr. Marivic Empizo, Zero and Eco-waste advocates Marivic Tenefrancia and Ma. Agnes Garcia and other environmental issue experts. The same lecture is presented to Saint Louis University (SLU) on October 24, after which outputs are reported to the Baguio Climate Change Council for more extensive response and action.
Earlier, last February 9, a Climate Change Summit was held which catered to an overwhelming 150 representatives from the 128 barangays; and on Feb. 22, a very active participation from 550 students of the city’s schools and colleges. Output through collages were aptly presented and appreciated with focus on “the green Baguio we want.”
Also in an earlier month-long exhibit hosted by the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), sustainable building practices and environmentally-conscious real estate development were presented; such that future homeowners have a better understanding on how to support a greener future.
All the activity outputs are assessed for the holding of the 4th Saleng Festival in 2024. – JGF, with reports from CEPMO and Urban Forestry Management Division
