Tagum plants 7,000 seedlings on National Arbor Day

Tuesday 3rd of July 2012

CITY OF TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE, July 3 -- At least 7,000 seedlings of different species of trees were planted in three different sites by various organizations here led by the city government of Tagum last June 25, in the observance of the Arbor Day.

Said seedlings were planted by an estimated 500 people in accretion areas in two sites in Barangay Apokon and Barangay Magugpo East, which was participated by different sectors such as, the Tagum Water District, Society of Filipino Foresters, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, University of Southeastern Philippines, barangay officials from the different barangays in the city, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Tagum National Trade School, LYR Group of Companies and Motortrade, among others.

According to agriculture office forester Michael Tradio, among the species that were planted are pili, almond, white lauan, narra, molave, duhat and rain tree.

The event is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 643 and President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Executive Order No. 26 mandating the National Greening Program.

Willie L. Jordan, the community environment officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office-Tagum City expressed his appreciation to the city government of Tagum led by Mayor Rey T. Uy for spearheading the massive reforestation programs along the Hijo Riverbanks which revitalizes the city’s watershed system.

“We are very pleased with how the local government utilized its resources for the sustainability of this noble program,” Jordan said,

The mayor believed this program should be intensified and to be taken seriously to ensure that the planted trees will really survive as a response to the huge development the city is experiencing.

The city grows its own seedlings in its city nurseries, which would ensure the sustainability of the program without spending a lot of money in the acquisition of tree seedlings, said Committee Chair on Environment Councilor Francisco Remitar.

The city also partnered with DENR in maintaining the 5 hectare-hedge garden in Brgy. Apokon, where a line of closely spaced shrubs and tree species were planted, which would later become the source of seedlings via clipping.

Said efforts secured the city a spot as a finalist in the prestigious Galing Pook Awards last year for its “Accretion Reforestation, Risk Reduction and Inter-Cropping Farming System” program awarded by President Aquino in Malacañang.

The Arbor Day, which was celebrated throughout the country on June 25, was conceptualized to develop greater awareness on the importance of the role of trees in environmental health and human life. (Louie Lapat/CIO Tagum/PIA XI)