DENR-Calabarzon chief Nilo Tamoria (left) leads the tree planting activity.
Photo by GEMI FORMARAN
DENR execs plant tree seedlings, bamboo culms inside UMRBPL
MORE than a thousand indigenous tree seedlings and bamboo culms were planted by regional officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along the streambanks inside the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL).
As the Environment Department celebrates the 158th Philippine Forestry Service and Arbor Day, DENR- Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria led the planting of kawayang tinik, narra, banaba, kaimito, and langka at Brgy. Calawis, Antipolo, Rizal inside the UMRBPL.
The site was selected as part of flood mitigation measures under the Executive Order No. 12 Task Force Build Back Better, and the Intensified Watershed Management of the PA where more than 800 hectares of riverbanks in UMRBPL are targeted to be planted with bamboo for easement recovery.
Planting of bamboo helps in riverbank stabilization, flood mitigation, and prevents soil erosion.
Tamoria recognized the important role of People’s Organizations in the reforestation and protection of watersheds.
“Ang pangangalaga sa tubig kanlungan ay hindi lamang obligasyon ng pamahalaan kundi obligasyon ng mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga taong nakikinabang sa ating watershed. Sana po huwag nating hayaang lumala ang sitwasyon ng ating kagubatan. Ang pagtatanim po ay simula lamang, ang hamon po ay ang pagpapayabong ng ating kagubatan sa tulong ng bawat sektor ng ating komunidad,” said Tamoria.
The official also emphasized the ridge to reef approach and reminded the community on the impacts of environmental activities from the forest down to the bodies of water. “Ang ginagawa po natin sa kagubatan ay may implikasyon sa ating karagatan”, he said.
The activity was conducted simultaneously in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.
