ROXAS City – A total of 9,600 acacia seedlings were planted in a 9-hectare lot in Barangay Roxas Otso, Tapaz, Capiz during this year’s Philippine Arbor Day celebration.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 led the tree-planting activity on June 25 dubbed as the “One Million Trees in One Day” project of the Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO).
Aside from the two agencies, the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) of Mambusao, Municipal ENRO of Tapaz, Tapaz police station, Roxas Elementary School, and Candelaria National High School also joined the activity.
Other DENR Region 6 employees were assigned at other tree-planting sites in Capiz. They were joined by members of 93 organizations from the academe and private sector in the province.
“The Arbor Day celebration is a simple event that reminds us that we should not forget to take good care of our only home,” said DENR regional director Jim O Sampulna.
He added that the collaboration of various sectors clearly shows “that if we work together, we will be able to make a big difference in our own little way.”
“The seedlings that we have planted are not only for our own benefit but this is for the next generations to come,” Sampulna said.
CaPENRO is still consolidating the final number of seedlings planted and the areas covered in the province.
The celebration of Arbor Day every June 25 is pursuant to Republic Act 10176, or the Arbor Day Act of 2012.
The law mandates all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays to conduct a tree-planting activity every year.
The law was created to combat the loss of natural resources and rejuvenate the environment by providing effective measures for their maintenance and sustainability. (With a report from DENR Region 6/PN)
