City advocates reforestation through fruit trees

Forest reserves are dwindling at an alarming rate. Thus, large tracts of lands for planting trees are a thing of the past. The city is crammed with structures, leaving no viable space for planting. The city must then work around these patent limitations.

These similar words from the Ordinance Numbered 03, series of 2006 or the Green Patch Ordinance are expressed by City Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, Committee on Health, Sanitation, Handicapped and Disabled Persons and Ecology and Environmental Protection and president of Baguio Regreening Movement when he spoke regarding the state of forests in the city.

In 2006, Balajadia proposed the green patch ordinance aiming to regreen the city of Baguio by the use of available space considering that there is a shortage of forest reserve areas which are continually diminishing.

According to Balajadia, he asked a P1M fund from Congressman Mauricio Domogan who responded immediately, with the commitment to dedicate 60% of the amount to Quirino Hill, one of the barangays where space for planting is limited. “Kung makikita mo, wala nang pagtataniman ng puno doon”, Balajadia says. But then he added that fruit trees can still manage to grow in the area if given proper care.

“Okay lang naman kung magbibigay sila ng itatanim. Makakatulong din naman yun kahit paano,” Aimer Tumbaga, a resident of Quirino Hill said.

The 40% left was allotted to seedlings that are to be distributed to other barangays where trees are needed.

The fund was transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which head the bidding for the seedlings to be planted.

“It is not necessarily that we give only one seedling per household. If the house has a wide backyard or front yard that can be planted, we can give ten seedlings. As long as the resident commits to plant the seedlings in the city and nurture until it is viable. Itatanim, babantayan, bubuhayin. Para sa kanila rin naman iyon”, Balajadia said