Mt Prov environment group starts nationwide program to plant trees

By Wynner Sayaan

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Alalay at Gabay sa Pag-unlad ng Pamayanan (AAGAPAY) Movement, an organization that focuses its advocacy on preservation of the environment in coordination with Barangay Monamon Sur officials here and the provincial government conducted a nationwide simultaneous tree planting early this month in celebration of the movement’s national official launching.

In a quest towards mitigating climate change, AAGAPAY Movement started an ambitious nationwide forestation project.

With the theme “In service to the nation to help preserve the environment,” some 1500 seedlings were planted which includes 850 pine tree seedlings, 350 coffee seedlings and 300 guava seedlings at Sitios Pactil, Bandila-an and Mount Data all of Monamon Sur, this town.

Excited about the noble idea, Barangay Captain Basilio Ballo and his cousin August Ballo, an active member of the Knights of Columbus provided the vehicles used for carrying the seedlings from Pangao Nursery to the identified tree planting sites.

AAGAPAY, an alliance of organizations and individuals who envisions a safe, healthy and progressive environment through spiritual, economic and political empowerment of the people mobilized the Pactil Youth Organization, farmers group, residents and students, and barangay officials here to plant trees.

Gov. Maximo B. Dalog expressed his appreciation to his undertaking that is supportive to his ecological agenda.

In 2004, Dalog issued executive order No. 25 launching the one million tree planting program that aims to plant approximately 1 million seedlings every year.

Dalog said a PAENRO board was organized to consolidate all government and non-government efforts and resources to protect and rehabilitate the forests and watershed areas in the province.
“We are confident that we can meet our target this year with their help and that of our local partners,” said Governor Dalog.

The Movement’s provincial team leader Anthony Balboa said trees that used to provide protection for the head water that supplies the Chico River have been cut down. “This activity to save the forest and vegetation from total destruction is just in time,” Balboa said. “There is the need to put preventive measures in place, before the situation gets out of control,” he added.

Participants attended a thanksgiving mass after their successful tree planting activity.