Some 5,500 endemic trees were planted by volunteers from various sectors during the tree planting and growing activities held in three areas in northern Negros Occidental.
On Sunday, Feb. 7, the activity in Talisay City saw the planting of about 1,500 seedlings in the upland villages of Katilingban, Cabatangan and San Fernando through the initiative of Talisay Water District in partnership with Councilor Kenn Thomas Tirthdas.
In a statement, Tirthdas said that by planting trees, they can express their concern to the environment and reduce the unfavorable effects of climate change.
“We are not just emphasizing tree planting, but tree growing as well, to protect us from calamities brought by heavy rains,” he added.
Totong Mendoza, manager of Talisay City Water District, said as a resilient and sustainable community, the city needs to plant the seeds today for future generations to fully reap the benefits.
On the same day, personnel of Radyo Bandera Sweet FM Bacolod and riders from Radyo Bandera Motorcycle Club Inc. were joined by members of the Integrated Bar of Philippines-Negros Occidental in planting 3,000 seedlings of endemic trees in Barangay Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto.
Edmundo Manlapao, president of IBP-Negros Occidental Chapter, said that under the “Trees for Tomorrow” project, they aim to protect the remaining watershed areas of the province and promote their campaign for environmental protection and preservation.
In Silay City, the Eco-vengers, a group of environmental enthusiasts headed by Kenneth Lacson, spearheaded the tree-planting in Sitio Baliguan, Barangay Patag on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Some 300 participants, who were joined by Mayor Mark Golez, planted 1,000 non-fruit bearing trees, including 700 lawaan, 200 narra, and 100 nató seedlings, in the watershed area.
“It’s about time that we give back to our environment by planting and growing trees. Remember, the forest can survive without man, but man cannot survive without the forest,” Golez said.
The tree-planting activities came weeks after Talisay and Silay and neighboring Victorias City and E.B. Magalona town suffered massive floods that displaced thousands of residents and damaged a number of road infrastructures.
The flash floods on Jan. 1 and 8 led the four localities to declare a state of calamity in their respective areas. – NLG
