1,500 Seedlings Planted at Annual Tree Planting

DAVAO ORIENTAL – The Provincial Government recently held its annual tree planting activity in celebration of its 51st Founding Anniversary.

Participated by the employees of national agencies, provincial offices, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), some 1,500 mahogany and narra tree seedlings were planted along Badas and Culian Road in the City of Mati on June 22, Friday.

As early as 6 o’clock in the morning, hundreds of participants have gathered with their planting tools ready to plant trees along the length of the highway.

By virtue of a Sanggunian Panlalawigan resolution, every 22nd day of June has been declared as a tree planting activity. With this year’s theme: “Forest Landscape Restoration for Sustainable Development,” the Barangay Local Government Unit of Culian committed to monitor the activity’s sustainability mechanism through the 4Ps beneficiaries residing in the area.

“Amidst climate change and global warming, this is one way of giving our efforts in order to counter the effects and perhaps reverse them,” Vice Governor Niño Sotero L. Uy said.

The Vice Governor, who represented Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, added that this activity is very timely since the road concreting project of the area has just started. He said these trees will be planted along the road is more than just an aesthetic component but also help to provide safety for motorists from disasters such soil erosion and landslide.

The tree planting activity as part of the Million Trees Program of the Provincial Government is an annual activity to celebrate the province’s anniversary as it symbolizes a fresh start for more development and growth for the province.

The Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Dolores Valdesco said that the activity also inculcates among the government workers and the general public, alike, the value of taking care of the environment. “By planting more trees, we are also taking care of the environment as we prevent disasters and minimize the effects of climate change and global warming,” she said. (Mark Oliver L. Alvite)