ILOILO – This province is set to plant more than 10,000 trees in a massive province-wide Arbor Day campaign this Thursday, June 25, as thousands of community population workers join efforts to advance the provincial government’s long-term goal of transforming Iloilo into a forest province by 2044.
The simultaneous tree-growing activity, dubbed “Tanum PPO/BSPO,” will mobilize some 2,505 Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) and Provincial Population Office personnel across the province in one of the largest coordinated Arbor Day observances in Iloilo this year.
The initiative supports the provincial government’s Tanum Iloilo Towards a Forest Province program spearheaded by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Provincial Population Officer Atty. Ruel Von Superio said organizers expect to exceed the 10,000-tree target if each participating BSPO plants at least four seedlings.
The tree-growing activity will focus on mangroves, native and indigenous tree species, as well as fruit-bearing trees to help strengthen environmental protection and expand green cover throughout the province.
Seedlings for the activity were provided and distributed by the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) through its provincial nursery.
The activity also coincides with the observance of Arbor Day on June 25 and serves as a prelude to the celebration of Provincial Arbor Day on June 27.
In support of the campaign, the Provincial Population Office and PGENRO have encouraged local government units, barangays, government agencies, civic organizations, and other stakeholders to organize and support similar tree-growing activities in their respective communities.
PGENRO is also set to conduct a separate tree-growing activity on June 27 in line with the province’s observance of Provincial Arbor Day.
Under Provincial Ordinance No. 2018-132, Series of 2017, Iloilo annually commemorates Provincial Arbor Day as part of its environmental conservation efforts.
“More than an annual observance, this celebration reflects the enduring commitment of #TanumIloilo in advancing the province’s long-term vision of becoming Forest Province Iloilo by 2044,” according to PGENRO./PN
