VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — Some 444 participants in Ilocos Sur planted 2,000 tree seedlings at Barangay Daligan in Santa Cruz town on Sept. 24, pledging environmental protection while raising funds for the families of fallen civil servants.
This is in line with the celebration of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary with a registration fee of ₱250 for each participants to fund the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani, a program of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) providing financial support to the families of public servants who passed away in the line of duty.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Ilocos Sur, through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tagudin, supplied around 1,000 Narra, 500 Kalantas (Philippine Cedar), and 500 Ipil seedlings for the event.
Employees from the different national government agencies and local government units, and staff of non-government organizations who joined swore their commitment to climate action and environmental responsibility in a pledge led by CSC Ilocos Sur provincial director Marina Garcia.
“Each tree planted is a living testament to our resolve to make a positive impact on our planet, so let us now join in solidarity with hearts full of hope as we pledge to protect and preserve our environment for generations to come,” said Garcia.
She also said, “Sowing seeds into the ground, we are planting the roots of change, growth, and sustainability so these trees symbolize our collective commitment to the environment, which extends beyond today’s activity.”
Graceshel Trinidad, information officer of Banayoyo town and a participant in the tree growing event, commended the CSC for the conduct of the activity, “As a public servant, and being aware of the impact of our actions on current issues particularly, climate change and disasters, this program is a fitting activity and it is great that we can do something to protect and restore the once good condition of our environment.”
Moreover, DENR-CENRO Tagudin officer-in-charge Sabas Rubio provided an orientation and demonstration of proper planting emphasizing that the seeds are “premium, so they should be handled with care.”
Rubio said, “May we maintain the seedlings that we plant, not only for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points that you will get after the activity, but may we also make sure that the seedlings we plant today secure the future of our environment.”
The CPD points, as explained by Garcia, are requirements for those who need to renew their Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) licenses including nurses, engineers, and teachers, among others.
Participants in the activity will earn three professional development points, offered by the PRC Region I in partnership with the CSC.
Garcia clarified that this only applies in the Ilocos region where there are three venues for the tree-growing initiative including Agoo Eco Park in La Union and Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem, Pangasinan. (MJTAB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
