The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that more than 130,000 bamboo culms and native tree seedlings of different species were planted in a simultaneous bamboo and tree planting activity nationwide to celebrate President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 65th birth anniversary on September 13.
With the theme “Buhayin ang Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan,” President Marcos himself led the kickoff ceremonies in an old sanitary landfill (SLF) being rehabilitated by the DENR at Barangay Pintong Bocaue in San Mateo, Rizal, which is within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape. The old SLF was closed in November 1989.
Planted at the site were some 1,613 seedlings including various species of bamboo and fruit bearing trees.
In her welcome remarks, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga expressed gratitude for the privilege of introducing the President, citing that the nationwide activity was a symbol of the new administration’s direction and our national commitment to address climate change, mitigate its effects, and alleviate the risk of vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
Tree planting activities were also simultaneously held in 111 sites in the country covering an aggregate area of 681.5 hectares planted mostly with bamboo culms and indigenous timber tree seedlings such as agoho, kalumpit, yakal, molave, narra, bignai, and banaba.
The event was also in line with the celebration of Philippine Bamboo Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1401, series of 2022, and in support of the President’s directive to boost the resilience of the country to natural disasters by expanding forest cover and accelerating efforts towards forest protection.
The event was jointly organized by the DENR, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. ###
