LEGAZPI CITY – “Lakad Tanim Para sa Puso.” This is the tree-planting program held here on Valentine’s Day which was participated in by nearly 1,000 residents of this city. .
The participants, who included officials and personnel of the city government, Philippine National Police, and Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay officials. They hiked a one-kilometer stretch from the main road at Barangay San Francisco to the planting site in the same village.
The participants planted at least 3,500 assorted fruit-bearing tree seedlings as well as “kamagong” and “baligang” on a public land. The seedlings were provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Bicol Regional Office.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal said the annual tree planting activity spearheaded by the city government has now become part of their reforestation and environmental conservation program aimed at preserving the Albay’s natural resources “for a better tomorrow.”
“The ‘Lakad Tanim Para sa Puso’ was started in 2007 after Legazpi City was hit by super Typhoon Reming and after 15 years of the yearly tree planting activities, we recorded already almost 100,000 different trees planted,” he said in an interview.
Rosal said the trees planted during the previous years are now fully-grown and standing tall in different areas of the city — at the foot of Mayon Volcano, the top of Lignon Hill view deck, at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Banquerohan, and the golf course in Barangay Padang.
The City executive commended the participants, most of whom regularly join the city’s tree-planting activities. He pointed out that the trees would serve as the residents’ protection from the impact of natural hazards like floods and landslides.
In 2014, the City Legislative Council adopted a resolution declaring February 14 every year, the feast day of St. Valentine, as Legazpi’s Arbor Day.