ARINGAY, La Union (PIA) – The province of La Union joined the nationwide simultaneous bamboo and tree planting on Tuesday.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) organized the tree planting activity in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other participating agencies, local governments, and volunteers.

In the province, the activity was held in Barangay Gallano, this town, and attended by over 100 individuals from government agencies, the local government unit of Aringay, and residents from Barangays Gallano, Basca, and Manga.

A total of 500 seedlings, 250 narra and 250 banaba, were planted covering one hectare of forest area.

Lawyer Crizaldy M. Barcelo, regional executive director of the DENR Ilocos, lauded the DILG-led activity held in all parts of the country with the theme: “Buhayin ang Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan.”

“Ginagawa po natin ito para sa ating kalikasan at para mapanatili natin ang ating kagubatan,” Barcelo said.

The effort, he continued, is intended to increase forest cover, which aids in mitigating the consequences of climate change and compliments their department's National Greening Program.

Engr. Ria Bautista, municipal environment and natural resources officer of Aringay, thanked all the participants for their time and commitment in saving Mother Earth.

"On behalf of our LGU, we thank all of our partners in today's greening activity. We are hopeful that we can keep cooperating for the environment," Bautista said.

Meanwhile, Forester Raymundo Cayat demonstrated the proper way of planting to increase the survival rate of the seedlings. (JCR/JPD, PIA La Union)