DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Sept. 8 (PIA) – The pandemic has not hindered the local government of Digos City to push for the realization of an improved greening program, as it launched today the ‘One Million Trees’ greening program which aims to plant and grow one million trees by end of 2021.
“Together, we will make a history. Together, we will leave a legacy for prosperity,” Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas stated as he led the launching activity in time for the celebration of the 20th Founding Anniversary of the city on Tuesday (Sept. 8).
The launch of the One Million Trees held at the Digos City Eco Park has gathered around a thousand supporters, volunteers, environmentalists and employees from the local and national government agencies, who showed their support to the LGU’s greening endeavor by planting trees within the eco park.
“We need a balanced community. Let’s not wait for the further destruction of our environment,” the local chief executive stated in the vernacular, as he emphasized the importance of growing trees in restoring the waters of Digos City.
Cagas said the greening activity is in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, City ENRO, Provincial ENRO, City Tourism Office and City Agriculturist’s Office to ensure the target of planting at least 65,000 trees per month to achieve the growing of the one million trees.
He bared that the One Million Trees requires a budget of P15 million for the one million trees or PhP15 per tree.
He said that the city has a clonal facility and nursery where the seedlings will be produced, but he added that there is still a need to encourage volunteers for the seedlings and labor needs.
Vice Mayor Johari Baña said that the pandemic has not hindered the local government of Digos City to push for the realization of a strengthened reforestation and greening program for the city and its constituents.
The One Million Trees greening program is an offshoot of the city LGU’s Greening Program Ordinance which was passed on August 6, 2020, mainly aiming at protecting, preserving and saving the environment of Digos City.
Baña reminded the Digoseños to value the conservation of forested areas in the city to ensure that tributaries and large bodies of water in densely populated areas will not be a cause of calamities during the rainy season.
“This is very timely. Even without the flashfloods and landslides incidents, protecting the environment is very high in our agenda,” Baña stated.
Baña bared that the Greening Program will also cover a greening mapping which will require a geo tagging of each tree planted.
Also part of the major greening activities of the LGU is developing the four-hectare area of the Digos City Eco Park which is eyed to have a natural and ecological approach, Cagas bared.
During the launching activity, the mayor has also administered the oath taking of the members of Digos City Greening Council which is established to help monitor and ensure the sustainability of the Greening Program.
The 26 barangays in the city have also organized their own tree planting activities simultaneously with the One Million Trees launch.
Cagas said that this is just a jumpstart of the greening program of Digos City. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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