Naga City joins national simultaneous tree planting

By Keren Anne Bernadas

ABOUT 1500 seeds composed of bamboo, Narra, pili, and other fruit-bearing plants were planted at the Naga View Adventist College (NVAC) in Panicuason, yesterday in line with the nationwide simultaneous bamboo and tree planting activity headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Naga City Focal Person Lino Ruperto Boncodin, Jr. said that one of the objectives of the said activity is to unite every individual to plant and instill the importance of farming for future generations.

“Particularly now that we face the second year of the COVID -19 pandemic, it is important to see that we are doing better amid any threats to our health. It is a good thing to know that various agencies are present together with the local government unit as well as the academe to perform this advocacy,” Boncodin said.

The tree planting activity was conducted simultaneously nationwide, spearheaded by the DILG, on the birthday of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., alongside with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture.

According to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ronnel Astor, nearly half of a hectare was planted in the city. Bamboo trees were planted at the side and the lower portion of the area as part of their riverbank stabilization program and World Bamboo Day on September 18.

All farming materials were prepared by DENR, said Astor.

Naga City’s Forest in our Midst (FOM) program, according to Mayor Nelson Legacion, would greatly help in the sustainability of the tree growth.

“This program is one of the major agenda that this administration has launched. Up until now, we have now 75 FOMs and we have planted more than 32,000 trees. The best result of this program is that it turns the survival rate of the plants from 20 percent in the past to 80 percent at the present. This also collaborates inclusive efforts from the private sector in the maintenance of the plant’s growth,” the mayor said.

Some members of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, NVAC students, and faculty as well as barangay residents also took part in the said activity. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)