By
Pamela Mariz Geminiano
BAGUIO CITY -- The
city government has welcomed the order of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to
conduct an eco-system research to extend the life of pine trees, which are
abundant in the city.
"We
welcome and appreciate the concern raised by DENR Secretary Cimatu on the state
of the pine trees in a private property and public places in the different
parts of Baguio City and the overall situation of its environment," Mayor
Mauricio Domogan said in a statement posted on the city's social media account
Tuesday evening.
During the
Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming on Feb. 16, Cimatu ordered the
DENR staff to conduct an eco-system research and gave them one month to
complete the inventory of pine trees.
Domogan, in
an interview, said the city government through the City Environment and Parks
Management Office (CEPMO), in coordination with the DENR, have been looking at
the pine tree infestation, which had been causing deaths to some of the trees.
"In
fact, dozens of infested trees in our parks and other public places were
subjected to the stringent surgical process while the dead trees were removed
and replaced with young ones through the continuing reforestation program in
coordination with DENR," he said.
Domogan also
spoke of the city government’s efforts to protect the pine tree park near the
Baguio Convention Center, which was the subject of letters of elementary pupils
who wrote to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The mayor
said they have forwarded over 67 letters from students of Baguio Pines Family
Learning Center (BPFLC) to Duterte to help keep and maintain the pine tree park
and prevent it from being sold.
He said the
city government proposed to purchase the lot from the Government Service
Insurance Corporation (GSIS), especially after information that a private
company has expressed interest to buy the area and convert it to a commercial
center, but to no avail.
The GSIS
issued a statement saying it would not sell the property.
Baguio City,
also known as the "City of Pines", is a popular tourist destination
for its pine trees, which thrive in its cool weather.
In interviews
with the media on the sidelines of the alumni homecoming, Cimatu said upon his
arrival in the city on February 15, he instructed the DENR in the Cordillera to
immediately start the counting of trees so the agency could take steps to
preserve and protect them.
“This is what
makes the city of Baguio unique among other tourist destinations, aside from
its cold weather,” Cimatu said.
In the past,
people who visit the city are greeted with the scent of pine while traversing
the roads leading to Baguio, which has been missing these days, Cimatu said.
Cimatu said
that upon his arrival in Baguio on Feb. 15, he instructed the DENR in the
Cordillera to immediately start the counting of trees so the agency could take
steps to preserve and protect them.
He said that
he is really interested in pine trees because this what makes the city of
Baguio unique among other tourist destinations, aside from its cold weather.
Cimatu said
in the past, every time people visit the city they can immediately smell the
scent of pine, which has been missing these days.
“The pine
tree inventory will pave the way for the DENR and WWRRC to come up with an
ecosystem research to check the status of pine trees in Baguio,” he said.
He said that
he will also be sending scientists specializing in landslides and climate
change to conduct a research and to come up with measures during calamities.
He assured
that the research to be conducted by his office and WWRRC will not lead to the
national government issuance of an order for the rehabilitation of the city.
“Honestly,
there is no directive for the rehabilitation of Baguio. We are still focusing
in Boracay since we still have a year to fully rehabilitate it. And now we are
rehabilitating Manila Bay so Baguio is not yet subject for rehabilitation,” he
said. -- PNA
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