BANGUED, Abra (PIA) – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Abra (PENRO-Abra) distributed free tree seedlings to kick-off the Environment celebration and to urge Abrenians to plant more trees.
PENR Officer Marcelo Bumidang shared that the program, which is also part of the 37th anniversary of the DENR, aims to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“This June 3 kick-off, we distribute seedlings for free to the community or anyone who wants to plant, anytime within the month. Daytoy introductory activity mi ket panagmula ta daytoy ti mang-address ti climate change nga mapaspasaran tayo,” he explained.
[This introductory activity of tree planting will help address climate change that we are currently experiencing,]
He also highlighted the importance of planting trees and reforestation in preserving and conserving the Abra River Basin which is a major food source and an economic asset for Abra.
“Kaano lang diay nangyari ditoy Bangued nga flooding, karkaro diay baba so diay ti nakita tayo nga epekto nu haan tayo nga itultuloy ti panagmula tapno kasta ket ma-rehabiltiate tayo daytoy makunkuna nga head water tayo ditoy Abra,” he emphasized.
[It was just recently that intense flooding happened in Abra, especially in the lower areas. That is the effect if we do not continue planting trees and rehabilitate the so-called headwater in Abra.]
During the Community PanTREE program in Bangued and Lagangilang, locals and other stakeholders received Narra, Gmelina, and Mahogany tree seedlings from the PENRO.
Bumidang is urging Abrenians who are interested in planting trees to visit their office for free seedlings. He said that there are around 15,000 seedlings for free distribution.
“Narra, mahogany, gmelina are the available species and natibker nga pang watershed and timber ngem adda pay daduma nga species idiay nursery,” he said.
He added that the distributed seedlings will be monitored by the PENRO to ensure its survival and sustainability.
“Ilislista mi diay maited mi ken anya nga disu pangimulaan da to ensure that they are planted on open spaces,” Bumidang shared.
[We list down the beneficiaries and where they would plant the seedlings to ensure that they are planted in open spaces.]
The PENR Officer also said that the province was able to attain a 70-75 percent survival rate of planted seedlings amidst challenges such as forest fires.
He explained that although survival rates are high during the rainy season, forest fires that occur mostly during summer affect the sustainability of planted seedlings.
“Daytoy ti dakkel nga challenge nga masapul nga haan lang nga DENR ti makin akem datoy, masapaul amin nga stakeholders pagtitinnulungan tayo daytoy karkaro ti LGU ken BFP ta isu ti lead agency nga mangpasardeng wenno agmonmonitor,” he said.
[This is a big challenge, this is not just the responsibility of the DENR but all stakeholders should work together especially the LGU and the BFP which are the lead in fire prevention or monitoring.]
Meanwhile, Community Environment and Natural Resources-Bangued Shirley Leaño said various activities are lined-up in celebration of the Environment Month this June.
“Add ti clean up drives, info dissemination, ken adda pay handog ti titulo idiay Bucay nga i-distribute mi ti special patents like schools, government infra, agri and residential free patents,” she shared.
[There are clean up drives, info dissemination, and Handog Titulo in Bucay where we distribute special patents for public schools, government infra, agri and residential free patents.]
The Environment Month this year carries the theme “Our Environment, Our Future.” (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
