Groups/institutions join Saleng Festival tree planting activities; city continues seedling production, shares to Benguet municipality

The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) headed by Atty. Rhenan Diwas, continues seedling production in the nurseries to provide for the Saleng festival planting activities from June to September.

At least Eighteen Thousand (18 k) seedlings are available in the Busol and Botanical garden nurseries, for planting, and replacement for trees cut with permit and those felled by typhoons.

As of date, a dozen groups have committed to tree planting activities in allowed areas.

Planting dates however have to be arranged due to the unpredictable weather.

According to CEPMO Forester Floro Bastian; the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission Baguio marked Bayan Park as their planting venue; while the Cordillera Executive Lady Eagles Club chose Valenzuela Park; and San Vicente barangay constituents plant at the Baguio Dairy Farm.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP) and Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Sub-station 6 decided on Busol Watershed as their planting area, while the Baguio Teacher’s Camp residents plant in their own compound, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) scholars regreen the arboretum.

Burnham-Legarda officials and constituents plant at the Pine Trees of the World, Sta. Scholastica barangay chose Camp 8 watershed, BCPO Substation 5 plant within Burnham Park, and Lafaayette luxury suites, at Forbes Park # 2.

As coordinated with the D Igorot Tribe Benguet, the CEPMO through Atty. Diwas has approved a donation of 1,000 pine seedlings for the Local Government of Kapangan, Benguet.

It was noted by Diwas that the municipality of Kapangan, a sister Local Government Unit of  Baguio since July 2017, has “similar qualities and opportunities to environment protection and other endeavors” thus the donation is for the mutual benefit of both LGUs.

“We forge partnerships for sustainable greening programs, without bounds and without boundaries,” Diwas pointed out. Our constituents would benefit from greening and re-greening the environment, he added.

The pine seedlings together with fruit-bearing trees produced locally shall be planted in roadsides and available areas.

Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin expressed gratitude for the donation. – JGFianza