Photo by: DENR Central Luzon
BALER, Aurora — More than 1,200 indigenous tree seedlings were planted in a two-hectare portion of the Dibalo-Pingit-Zabali-Malayat Watershed Forest Reserve as part of efforts to restore forest cover and strengthen environmental protection in the province.
The reforestation activity, held in observance of the 126th anniversary of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), brought together the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), national government agencies, local government units, academic institutions and other community stakeholders.
DENR Dingalan Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) head Jimmy Aberin said the participants planted native species such as narra (Pterocarpus indicus), supa (Sindora supa) and molave (Vitex parviflora).
The DENR provided the seedlings and technical assistance, including site assessment, species selection and proper planting techniques, Aberin said.
Photo by: DENR Central Luzon
The agency also designated the two-hectare area as a permanent planting site for the CSC for five years to support sustained forest restoration activities.
Aberin said the initiative forms part of the Luntiang Pook Bayan program, which provides government employees and other stakeholders with a continuing venue to participate in forest rehabilitation and environmental protection.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo underscored the role of government workers in environmental stewardship, saying public service also carries a responsibility to protect natural resources.
“Apart from being public servants, we should also consider ourselves environmental servants,” Pablo said, stressing that forests provide essential support to communities and ecosystems.
“When we protect our forests, we protect the ecosystem that sustains our communities,” he added.
Among those who participated were personnel from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, Department of Agrarian Reform, PAG-IBIG Fund, Philippine Red Cross, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Coast Guard and Department of Public Works and Highways.
Representatives from the LGUs of San Luis, Maria Aurora, Baler, Dipaculao and Casiguran also joined the activity, along with representatives from the Aurora State College of Technology and the University of the Philippines Health and Sciences.
The DENR said the continuing partnership among government agencies, local communities and other institutions is aimed at sustaining forest restoration and protecting the watershed as a vital environmental resource in Aurora.