Kalinga adopts sports ground as model tree-planting area

By Peter A. Balocnit

Monday 11th of June 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, June 11 (PIA) -- Government employees chose the provincial sports ground as their planting area on Arbor Day, June 25, to make it a show window of the greening program of the government.

The sports complex, located at the 2nd plateau here, is an ideal area for reforestation project, being adjacent to the capitol, several government offices, and schools, and is also seen as a potential park.

Gov. Jocel Baac directed the provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office to have available tree seedlings during that day, and to also have other tree-planting activities scheduled this June in celebration of the Environment Month.

The Kapehan body, composed of heads of offices, also emphasized on the clearing and weeding of the area to ensure the survival of the trees and to protect them from forest fires and human destruction. They also committed to maintain the plantations in order to attain the goals of the National Greening Program of the Aquino administration.

OIC Provincial Department of Environment and Natural Resources Officer Severino Dalutag, meanwhile, reported that the province succeeded in implementing the total log ban, and has stopped the wanton cutting and illegal transport of forest products particularly lumber.

“If we succeeded on stopping illegal tree cutting and transport of lumber, why don't we also maintain our own reforestation projects?” he challenged. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)