PRESS RELEASE/June 28, 2012 DENR- PENRO Ilocos Norte

PENRO pilots grand I. Norte Arbor Day

2, 000 trees earthed in Paoay Lake National Park
The biggest Arbor Day celebration in Ilocos Norte has just been concluded. Alongside nearly a thousand participants coming from the different sectors of the government, religious groups, the academe, business, and other non- government organizations, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) recently took the lead in celebrating Arbor Day in Ilocos Norte. Claimed by a number of witnesses as the most exciting and largest Arbor Day celebration ever in the province, the Paoay Lake National Park (PLNP)Ilocos Nortes top protected landscape hosted the event on June 25. At the outset of the celebration, a brief program took place at the Nagbacalan View Deck where the PLNP and its contiguous watersheds served as a refreshing backdrop. The participants were greeted by no less than Paoay town Mayor Bonifacio Clemente where the latter stated that he is elated to see the number of the participants and of the overwhelming external support that his town obtains for the development and protection of the PLNP. The PLNP is not just a matter of concern among Paoay folks, it is everyones duty to save the lake and its surroundings from harm. Thank you for your unceasing efforts to protect our Paoay Lake, Clemente expressed. On the other hand, Ilocos Norte Provincial Administrator Atty. Windell D. Chua revealed that the provincial government has laid out development plans for the lake. Last year, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte has pushed a grand eco- tourism plan within the PLNP to draw more investments and income for the province. Of course, with these developments coming in, we make sure that the lakes ecosystem is not jeopardized contrary to some speculations that the lake will be at risk, Chua said. The lake is seen by various investors an ideal venue for different water sports such as wakeboarding, wake skating, canoeing and regatta (boat sailing). Therefore, tree planting activities, and the management and protection of the PLNP and all our natural resources should not only be performed by DENR or PENRO or the provincial government. Rather, these duties and responsibilities must be a collective task. Lets make everyday, Arbor Day, Chua added. Meanwhile, around 2, 000 tree seedlings and saplings of different species were planted near and around the PLNP specifically in Barangays Nanguyudan and Sungadan.

Planting areas were divided in ten blocks where 21 participating government and nongovernment organizations was assigned in each block with at least one or two seedlings or saplings for every individual to plant. Ilocos Norte Water District (INWD) general manager John M. Teodoro said tree planting here is worth- doing because the PLNP is a critical body of water for Ilocos Norte. Teodoro and his staff earthed around 200 mahogany saplings near the INWD area located in Brgy. Sungadan. Like any other participant, Marife Pascual, a registered nurse, was also exuberant for her participation to the tree planting activity. This is my first time to join Arbor Day and it felt good to commune with nature. I am glad I had my first tree planted in a protected landscape like the PLNP and I mean to repeat what I have just done today, Pascual said, who was in full hope that the tree she planted will somehow help the lakes ecosystem more stable. A tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between PENRO, the private lot owners, and the representatives of each participating sectors to accord each group of their duties and responsibilities towards the trees planted. An important clause in the MOA stated that each participating sectors including the private lot owners who joined in the Arbor Day shall care and protect the trees they planted until the same are full grown. On one hand, PENRO will be responsible of the technical assistance for the management and protection of the trees. Arbor Day is the fourth of a series of the weekly activities organized by PENR Officer Juan P. de los Reyes, Jr. along with other stakeholders for the celebration of environment month this June. In the past three weeks, PENRO carried out an environmental assessment of households near and around the Paoay Lake National Park, a clean- up drive at Bengang Creek and Padsan River in Laoag City, and an eco walk. The agency is set to culminate the month- long celebration of environment month on June 28 where private and public groups and individuals who actively participated in to the activities of PENRO will receive commendation from the agency. Arbor Day (meaning tree) which originated in the United States is a working holiday in the Philippines which was just recently revived by the Senate of the Philippines. Under Presidential Proclamation 396, the object of Arbor Day is to create an essential channel for every citizen to develop greater awareness on the importance of the role of trees in environmental health and human life, in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. (Florante A. Nicolas, IO/DENR- PENRO Ilocos Norte) oOo