MAASIN CITY- The provincial government of Southern Leyte through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) on Thursday conducted tree planting and tree growing activities in an eight-hectare afforestation site in Barangay Laboon, this city, known to be the birthplace of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Another activity, which is the rehabilitation of one hectare of mangrove site in Barangay Buenavista, Padre Burgos, was conducted the following day.
According to PENRO provincial head Eva Abad, the province officially marked November 8 of every year as Arbor Day for the province since 2015.
“Provincial Governor Damian Mercado urged all the municipal and barangay officials to plant trees in time for the Yolanda commemoration and further instructed to submit reports relative to the compliance of the province-wide Arbor Day observance,” Abad said.
Dr. Abad said the afforestation site of the provincial government has been identified for the establishment of a man-made forest from its original grassland area.
“The provincial government started the tree planting and tree growing activities in partnership with the Couples for Christ and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office – Maasin,” she added.
Executive Order 2013 was issued by Congressman Roger Mercado, during his stint as the provincial governor, enjoining all the municipalities and barangays to observe every 8th of November as Arbor Day, as their way to commemorate that fateful Yolanda devastation, Abad said. (LDL/ESG/PIA8-SLeyte)
