SIBULAN, Negros Oriental, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- Around 170 representatives from various government agencies in the province helped plant 2,150 native and indigenous trees in Brgy. Enrique Villanueva, Sibulan during the nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity on Sept. 13.

The tree planting site is located within the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, a declared protected area in Negros Oriental.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here led the activity in coordination with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Participating agencies included the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Army, Department of Agriculture, DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, and the Local Government Unit of Sibulan.

DENR7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor Jr. thanked the DILG for organizing the activity and all those who participated in the event for showing their commitment to protecting the environment.

He noted, however, that the challenge is ensuring that the seedlings planted will grow.

“I understand that there will be succeeding activities that will be conducted in order to maintain what we have planted today. Hinaot unta in the coming days, in the coming months, we will be able to really maintain and ensure unsa atong gitanom nabuhi gud (I hope in the coming days, we will be able to really maintain and ensure that those we have planted will mature into a tree),” Melicor said.

During the activity, seedlings of Bakan (975), Lauan (925), Ulayan (150), and Balitadhan (100) were planted.

DILG Local Government Operations Officer Maricar Ollague, in a message delivered in behalf of her DILG Provincial Director Farrah Gentuya, sought the help of barangay officials in sustaining the momentum the group has started for a “greener Negros Oriental.”

“Together with other barangay functionaries, atong gihangyo ang atong mga barangay officials na mo-monitor sa atoang mga gitanom namga plant didto sa bukid para ma-sustain ang atong undertaking (we request our barangay officials to monitor the seedlings we planted to ensure that this undertaking is sustained),” Ollague said.

DA Regional Executive Director Joel Elumba, who was also present at the activity, emphasized the public’s responsibility in preserving the environment.

“Kitang Filipino, duna gud tay obligasyon, katungod pagproteher sa atoang environment. Ato gud nang kaakuhan. Kinahanglan gud ang kahoy ibalik (It is our obligation as Filipinos to protect our environment. It is our responsibility. We should restore our trees),” Elumba said.

The nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity coincided with the 65th birthday of Pres. Ferdinand “BongBong” R. Marcos Jr. who led the activity in San Mateo, Rizal.

The president, in his first State of the Nation Address, has earlier emphasized that preserving the environment is paramount in preserving the lives of every Filipino people. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)