Over 21k trees planted during Arbor Day

In celebration of this year’s Arbor Day, the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has simultaneously planted 21,757 trees in the highlands and coastal areas of Davao City on June 25, 2022.

According to CENRO Information Education Campaign Unit Representative Rubylyn Dela Cruz Baraquero, during the ‘Go Clean, Go Green’ program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio Tuesday, 1,016 participants—composed of City Government employees and volunteers—participated in the green event.

Baraquero said that this year’s Arbor Day was very successful due to the high turn-out of volunteers and government employees participating in the event. She added that other tree-planting activities are being practiced by CENRO and the barangays outside of Arbor Day. She said, “Naa’y 1,016 participants … successful kaayo ang atoang Arbor Day. Actually atoang mga barangay naa na pa sila’y ginabuhat na activity like tree-planting activities anytime of the year. (There were 1,016 participants for this year’s Arbor Day. Actually, our barangays also conduct tree-planting activities any time of the year).”

Over 21,000 saplings and propagules were planted in the nursery gardens of Barangay Eden in Toril, Barangays Pandaitan and Mabuhay in Paquibato District, and Bunawan. CENRO also planted mangrove propagules in Sitio Malamboon in Barangay Bucana.

The city-wide tree-planting activity marked the 18th year of Davao City’s participation in the National Arbor Day, which was institutionalized in the Philippines in 2003 by Proclamation No. 396. The proclamation was amended in 2004 to include a provision mandating “the active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups, and the citizenry in tree planting activity.” The proclamation also declared protected areas in cities and municipalities as either “forest parks” or “mangrove parks”

Davao City observes Arbor Day as this secular celebration falls in line with the city’s bid to champion ecological balance, environment protection and sustainability.

Meanwhile, the city’s roadside tree-planting and reforestation activities continue. Last year, CENRO has planted 2,130 roadside trees and 29, 851 propagules all over the city. CIO