PREPS for Tree Festival and ENVI month on
BAGUIO CITY – (7 May 2021) – A calendar of activities for the celebration of the environment month in June is being firmed up with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) at helm as coordination meetings have been conducted with all concerned offices since last month.
As a prelude, the first Baguio tree festival is launched on May 24 during the city hall flag raising ceremonies with song and dance performances fit for the occasion. A schedule of tree planting activities in various venues in coordination with socio-civic groups as to the Urban Forest Management Plan shall also be presented. All activities are geared towards the development and protection of forests, including understanding urban and bamboo forests in the city, and in line with the environmental thrust of the 15-point agenda of Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
On June 20, mounted live potted tree saplings shall be strolled from upper Session road, Casa Vallejo area, to Malcolm square for an exhibit. After the tree parade, establishments may display their entries in their frontage along Session road.
According to CEPMO Forester Floro Bastian, the tree carts should be of standard size, of 1.1 square meter of wood or lightweight material, .3 m height, with front wheels, and retractable back handles for pushing. A tree mount measuring .5 sq. meter in the middle contains any tree specie, may be potted, at least 5 feet in height and preferably has a thick crown. The cart may display patterns, or designs; may be labeled as to the owner, and may be used as a park bench in open spaces.
The concept is from a place in Germany where tree saplings in carts are displayed before being planted. It is also for the greening of facades, bridging the greenery gap inspite of limited spaces.
In a meeting earlier, City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente assured CEPMO head Atty. Rhenan Diwas, City Planning and Development Office head Architect Donna Tabangin, City Tourism and Special Events Office head Engr. Alec Mapalo of funds for prizes for the tree cart and other contests.
Tree cart entries may be submitted by corporations, schools, non-government organizations, private companies, government offices and other advocacy groups.
Submission, information and inquiries may be coursed through cellphone numbers: 0917-415-8224 or 0910-532-8139.
As part of the celebration, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the city and the Watershed and Water Resource Research Development and Extension Center is scheduled, to combat desertification and drought as with the opening of the arboretum at the Botanical garden; both sometime in June.
An activity, Restoring Our Ecosystem Together at the Irisan Ecopark is also being finalized.
On June 7 to 11, a technological solution competition for environmental problems may be launched, with details to be announced at a later date.
Other contests such as poster/slogan making, song-writing may be conducted.
Tree-planting, art installation, academic endeavors, incubator projects, free smoke-emission testing along city roads by the Waste water, Air ambiance Management Division (WWAMD) in coordination with the Baguio City Police Office are also being planned.
“The festival is part of the city’s urban forest management plan as its major information and education campaign strategy to encourage all sectors to support and actively participate in the sustainable and regenerative plans of the city government of Baguio to build a better city,” CEPMO head Diwas said as he requested for unwavering support to the Tree Festival and environmental month lined-up activities.- juliegfianza
