BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- Cordillerans planted more than 4,000 trees on Thursday (July 1) to kick off the month-long celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR).
The Regional Development Council thru the Watershed and Environment Management Committee(WEMC) led the simultaneous tree planting where 4,066 tree seedlings and saplings of different types and species were planted by government employees, civil society organizations and other volunteers across the region.
Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices initiated the planting pine, coffee, narra, yemane, rambutan and coconut trees in the provinces.
In Baguio City, it was spearheaded by RDC-WEMC Chairperson Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo, Department of Agriculture-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey, Dept. of the Interior and Local Government-CAR OIC-Regional Director Araceli San Jose, Environmental Management Bureau -CAR Regional Director Victoria Abrera, with other officials and personnel of the different government line agencies and uniformed personnel who planted 50 pine tree saplings at the Forbes Parcel 3 along the Ambuklao Road.
This year’s celebration theme is “Working Together towards Cordillera Autonomy through Green Recovery,” which calls for unified action from all Cordillerans to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help in the region’s recovery through environmentally-sustainable development strategies and approaches.
Green recovery refers to the sustainable and resilient return to growth and development after COVID-19 through environmentally-friendly technologies and practices for production such as the use of renewable energy, organic agriculture, responsible mining, and protection of our watersheds and natural resources. It highlights working in unity with the ultimate goal of attaining Regional Autonomy through Green Technologies and moving forward to recovery from this pandemic.
After the tree planting activity in Baguio, a traditional Benguet ritual was performed by Tuba Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Felix Siplat at the DENR-CAR to appease the spirits and ask for blessings in this year’s celebration amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A hybrid Kapihan sa Baguio forum formally opened the Cordillera Month celebration with Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development-Cordillera, and RDC Chairperson Abra Governor Jocelyn Bernos joining thru online platform while Directors Pablo, Odsey, San Jose, Abrera and NEDA-CAR Assistant Director Stephanie Christiansen joined face to face. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
