CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — Some 2,200 hardwood, fruit-bearing, and endemic trees were planted across various watershed areas in the MIMAROPA region by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) MIMAROPA during the nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity.
The move, which is also under the national greening program, was part of the agency’s 61st anniversary.
This initiative directly addresses the conservation and rehabilitation of watersheds, as it emphasizes the importance of restoring the vital sources of irrigation, a social media post of NIA said.
Selected employees from the regional office planted 1,000 hardwood and fruit-bearing trees at the 3-hectare watershed of the Baco-Bucayao River Irrigation System (RIS) in Barangay Mahabang Parang, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Employees of Palawan Irrigation Management Office (IMO) planted 500 fruit-bearing and endemic trees on a half a hectare watershed of the Batang-Batang RIS in the municipality of Narra.
Meanwhile, Occidental Mindoro IMO planted 700 fruit-bearing trees on a 1.91-hectare watershed of the Caguray River Irrigation System in the municipality of Magsaysay.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office representatives Joel Morillo and Gerry Mamigo briefed the participants to the tree planting activity on proper seedling handling techniques, while Watershed Forester Mariel Aguilar Mila also gsve reminders on how to optimize the tree planting activity.
The tree planting activity, which was in partnership with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of Naujan town, Provincial Government ENRO, and the Provincial Agriculture Office, was led by NIA MIMAROPA Regional Manager Ronilio M. Cervantes and IMO Acting Division Manager Maria Victoria O. Malenab.. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA)
