Trees are a romantic subject for architects, engineers, urban planners and as well as artist and poets who wish to pay tribute to nature’s grandeur and aesthetic beauty.
Trees have become symbols of the healthiness and wholesomeness of the natural environment. They are expected to spruce up, enhance, beautify and sanctify that urban or suburban atmosphere.
Because trees have these symbolic and sentimental attributes, their destruction can trigger strong emotion. They who indiscriminately cut trees, or allow the massacre of hundreds of trees should be at least punished, to show that justice is served for our trees and the natural environment.
Trees have very significant value to us. The rapid urbanization and the spread of development elsewhere in the country, many of our trees, some of which are centuries-old trees were cut down to pave way for the construction of shopping malls, widening of highways, or in order to pave way for a residential housing development.
Trees moderate the scorching heat of sunlight, and mitigate the effects of wind and rain. It serves as buffer and screen out nuisance and air pollutants. It also improve the community’s appearance and natural beauty.
We realized the tree shades’ importance when we suffer sun’s sweltering heat and the scorching temperatures especially during dry months of March, April and May. This time, even if the country’s weather bureau already announced the end of dry season, we still experienced humid temperature. This necessitates us to consider planting more trees in roadside, in vacant lots, and in parks and plazas.
This month of June, it is expected that there will be several tree planting activities being observed as our country’s Environment Month. On the 25th of June will also be National Arbor Day, which the tree planting event is conducted nationwide.
On the last Saturday of this month also, will be the biggest tree planting event in our city, which people from all walks of life, including City and barangay officials, students, government employees, uniformed personnel, youth, civic groups, etc. will once again, join a tree planting event spearheaded by the City Government of Puerto Princesa.
Every last Saturday of June is Pista Y Ang Cagueban (Feast of the Forest) in Puerto Princesa, an annual tree planting event, which has been a tradition since 1991. PYAC was also institutionalized through City Ordinance No. 286.
Based on official records of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO), PYAC has planted a total of 2.6 million trees from 1991 to 2022 in 16 sites within the city’s upland barangays. Of the total trees planted from 1991 until 2022, roughly 70-80 percent is estimated to have survived and grown.
People from other cities and provinces admired Puerto Princesa –a city in the forest and its annual PYAC.
The way our city administration sustained PYAC through the years is a testament that the present generation of Puerto Princesa treasure PYAC and the city’s natural environment as an heirloom that they can pass on to the next generations.