CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) --The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has conducted a tree planting activity at La Mesa Nature Reserve in Quezon City on Saturday, June 10, 2023 as part of the agency’s month-long 125th anniversary celebration.

DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan led the participating officials and employees of the Department in planting 1,250 trees native to the Philippines, which consisted of 650 and 600 seedlings of kamagong and bamboo, respectively.

In his message, Secretary Bonoan said that planting trees is not only a great way to mark a special occasion such as the DPWH anniversary, but it is also a way to give back to the environment as our key sustainable action in the fight against climate change.

Tree planting is an engaging activity important to create healthy and diverse ecosystems to make the planet a better place, added Secretary Bonoan.

Tree planting activity has been a tradition of DPWH in celebrating its anniversary as part of its commitment to environmental preservation.

For years now, the agency has been incorporating sustainable development in its project implementation.

This is amid the fact that implementing units in the Central, Regional and District Engineering Offices are fast-tracking numerous massive infrastructure projects under the “Build, Better, More” program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration in a bid to pump-prime growth of the Philippine economy.

Also contributing to the environment preservation and development by planting trees are DPWH Undersecretaries Carlos G. Mutuc, Ardeliza R. Medenilla, and Anne Sharlyne G. Lapuz; Service Directors Alex G. Bote, Randy R. Del Rosario, and Rhalf B. Cawaling; Quezon City 1st District Engineer Loida S. Busa; Planning Service – Environmental and Social Safeguards Division (PS-ESSD) Chief Rosemarie B. Del Rosario; and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Capital Region; and members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) - reservists.

The tree planting activity was organized by the DPWH Committee on Social Affairs headed by Undersecretary Medenilla; the Central Office Employees Union led by President Rolando C. Rodolfo; Quezon City First District Engineering Office; and PS-ESSD. (dpwh/pia-ncr)