The City Environment and Natural Resources Office nurtured more than 6,000 newly-planted and young trees within the seven-hectare tree plantation in Coastal Belt Project in Tagbarungis, Barangay Inagawan-Sub on February 19, 2020.
The office proceeded with the nurturing of trees, five days after February 14, the traditional “Love Affair with Nature” activity in Puerto Princesa, which was cancelled due to the Department of Health’s (DOH) warning to avoid large gatherings which might lead to close contact or possible exposure to Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019. This is the first time in 18 years that the activity was cancelled.
Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said that the materials needed for the nurturing of trees were already prepared a few days prior to the scheduled Love Affair with Nature, and they pushed through with the activity since it is important to care and nurture the trees, especially those planted last year, or the newly planted and young trees.
The trees planted within the sites are Talisay, Ipil, Taluto, Bani and Dangkalan also known as Bitaog. These were planted in 2017 and 2019 during the traditional Love Affair with Nature activities. It has been a yearly activity in the city, participated by national government agencies, institutions, academe, barangays, civic organizations, and other stakeholders.
Senior Environmental Management Specialist Zorina Arellano said that it started as early as 2003 and was institutionalized two years later or in 2005 through the passage of City Ordinance No. 287, an ordinance declaring February 14 of every year as “Love Affair with Nature Day” in the City of Puerto Princesa.
Senior Environmental Management Specialist Mary Ann Joylle M. Madriñan said that as part of the nurturing, Effective Microorganism Extended (EME) was poured to the trees.
EME is made from Effective Microorganisms-1 (EM-1) – a kind of organic fertilizer that will help nurture and facilitate its growth. EM-1 is a microbial inoculant that encourages the growth of beneficial microbes indigenous to the environment.
Other Love Affair with Nature sites within the city includes Barangay San Manuel, San Jose and Tagburos.
Discussion about this post