NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) Ilocos Region, along with various government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), planted trees at the Bigbiga Protected Landscape in Barangay Marozo in this town on Sunday, September 17.

The said planting site which is a 127-hectare Municipal Protected Area serves as the watershed of the whole municipality.

It was chosen by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the site for the Plant-Run, a tree-planting and fun run activity conducted by the CSC Ilocos Region for the celebration of the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.

Over 500 trees were planted by each participant from different agencies in the region including the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Education, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, DENR, and CSC, among others.

Some LGUs including the local government of Narvacan led by municipal mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., also joined the event.

“Mapadayawan ti ili iti Narvacan nga iti kinaado ti ili iti Region 1, Narvacan ti napilida nga immayan. So in a sense, it is historic, this is not an ordinary activity as it will serve a great purpose for the citizens here. (It is an honor for the town of Narvacan that among all the municipalities in the region, Narvacan was chosen for this activity),” the mayor said.

He also shared that the area has been the primary source of water for the town and was declared a protected area since former president Manuel L. Quezon’s proclamation in 1939.

Mayor Sanidad added, “I am surprised how our town was chosen for this activity, however, I am grateful that they came here to plant trees. Kayatna saw-en a naraniag latta ti masangwanan ti Narvacan maipanggep ti water supply ta dagita [naimula], ti panaglabas ti panawen agtubo ken dumakkel, nasayaat to latta ti pagalaantayo iti danum.(This means the future is still bright for Narvacan in terms of the water supply, because as time goes by the planted trees will grow and we would still have sufficient water.)”

Meanwhile, CSC Regional Director Hedy Jose Lardizabal, said that the activity was a joyful occasion as it was well-participated by participants from as far as Ilocos Norte and La Union.

He also shared that aside from maintaining the water shed in the town, the registration fees collected during the event will be utilized for the Pamana ng Lingkod Bayani, which is a financial assistance to civil servants who died in the line of duty, and the scholarship grant for their qualified dependents.

“It is a reminder for us public servants, hindi po tumitigil ang pangangailangan ng constituents natin, kaya gawin po natin hindi lang dahil kailangan kundi dahil gusto natin na maibigay sa abot ng ating makakaya iyong serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Saludo po kami sa inyo,” RD Lardizabal told the civil servants in his message for the anniversary. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)