PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (MGB MIMAROPA) -- Stakeholders from national and local government agencies, the minerals sector, and surrounding communities gathered for the nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity at the Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc. (PQMI) Rehabilitation Project Site located in Brgy. Sta. Lourdes in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, September 13.

With the theme “Buhayin ang Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan,” the said event is in support to the simultaneous tree planting event on September 13 spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture.

Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis M. Socrates joined Mines and Geosciences Bureau MIMAROPA Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble, Palawan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Felizardo B. Cayatoc, and DILG Provincial Director Virgilio L. Tagle, as they led other officials and participants in the planting of tree species such as narra, molave, ipil, balayong, and bani/bangkal in an approximate area of one hectare within the rehabilitation project site.

As part of the rehabilitation project, volunteers from partner agencies, operating mines in Palawan, and the surrounding barangays of Sta. Lourdes and Tagburos in Puerto Princesa City last gathered here in 2019 in support of the initiative to plant one million trees within the two barangays. This is also in line with the proposal of the City Government of Puerto Princesa to plant endemic balayong trees around the project site.

The MGB MIMAROPA Region has reiterated the vital role of stakeholder engagement in the PQMI rehabilitation project where residents and the public are encouraged to actively participate in the rehabilitation efforts through planting of trees and observing proper waste management. (PR)