TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) — Some 1,600 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees, mahogany and others trees species were planted at the Catbalogan Watershed Area in San Andres village of Catbalogan City, Samar over the weekend.
The tree-planting activity was spearheaded by the Kapisanan ng Mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) under the urban greening program dubbed as“2013 Oplan Broadcastreeing”held simultaneously nationwide over the weekend.
The KBP chose the watershed area to protect the urban water resource,according to Rommel Rutor, production supervisor of DYMS Aksyon Radyo and the over-all chairman of the KBP Broadcastreeing in the province of Samar.
He added that the KBP was able to get 1,500 seedlings from the nursery of the Catbalogan Water District and 1,250 seedlings from the office of Governor Sheree Ann Tan, which was sourced from the Philippine Army (PA) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
The activity was participated in by the provincial government of Samar, local government unit of Catbalogan, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Information Agency, Alert Philippines and students from Samar State University (SSU).
“During the first tree-planting activity last year, the organization was able to mobilize 1,400 volunteers but this year, the water district strictly limited the number of people inside the watershed to 200. But many volunteers came so we both decided to accommodate 400 people to the area,” Rutor said.
“The KBP planted 1,200 seedlings last year and hope to double it this year. All those who attended were required to plant eight seedlings each at eight-meter interval. This will be a yearly activity of the KBP, our greening advocacy,” Rutor added.
The tree-growing activity is in cooperation with the DILG and the Depart. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).