ILOILO – This Sept. 26, the provincial government hopes to plant 1.5 million trees through a massive province-wide tree planting activity dubbed “Tanum Iloilo: Tree Growing With Social Distancing”.
Tree planting can be pursued despite the coronavirus pandemic, stressed Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Health protocols should be strictly observed, he stressed, such as maintaining physical distancing, wearing of facemasks and face shields, and washing of hands.
For this Saturday’s event in line with the 21st Piyesta sa Kakahuyan, the provincial government is enlisting the support of all local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, non-government organizations, schools, religious organizations, media and the social media netizens, business and other sectors.
Participants can do the tree planting (fruit trees, indigenous trees, bamboo, and coconut, etc.) in any area of their choosing.
Defensor said households should participate, too.
Each household is encouraged to plant at least five seedlings, preferably fruit trees.
But planting is just half of the challenge, said Defensor.
The provincial government’s other goal is to achieve a survival rate of more than 80 percent of all the tree seedlings planted.
“We do not just plant trees. We must nurture them,” said Defensor.
In Executive Order No. 211 setting the “Tanum Iloilo: Tree Growing With Social Distancing”, Defensor stated that the provincial government wanted to make Iloilo a “forest province” or a “green province for health, tourism and progress.”
For each LGU, the target is to plant 1,000 tree seedlings.
The suggested areas for the tree planting are the following:
* forest land
* coastal areas and abandoned fishponds (for mangrove planting)
* riverbanks
* open public land
* municipal / barangay plazas and lots
* ecology parks
* roadsides (national highways, provincial, municipal and barangay roads)
* schools
* premises of private establishments
* household backyards and private lots, and other suitable areas.
To ensure the survival of the trees, Barangay Service Point Officers, barangay officials and municipal environment officers shall monitor and evaluate the seedlings within three months after the planting.
The trees would be checked during next year’s Piyesta sa Kakahuyan./PN
