BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance naming the pinus kesiya or Baguio pine as the city’s one town, one product (OTOP) providing for its protection, propagation, and promotion and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano stated consistent with the city’s environment code, the Baguio pine, its the protection, conservation, propagation and promotion as the city’s OTOP shall be of primordial importance in the consideration in all levels of policy formulation, programs, projects and activities of the local government.
The ordinance added the local government shall provide livelihood activities for the massive propagation, protection, and promotion of the pinus kesiya, including handicrafts, and artworks of souvenirs and tokens using the local pine needles, twigs or cones gathered from pine tree needle or cone droppings, pruning or trees cut pursuant to the city’s Environment code.
It stated a general information on the pinus kesiya, its ecological, economic and socio-cultural importance to the city and its people, shall also form part of the literature and promotional tools purposely for visitors or tourists.
Pursuant to Article 34 of the city’s environment code, the ordinance claimed basic learning institutions or centers in the city shall incorporate in the appropriate subject or curriculum lessons on the Baguio pine as the city’s OTOP, its role in shaping the unique character of the city known as the City of Pines.
Pinus kesiya, commonly known as Benguet or Baguio pine or three-needled pine, is one of the widely distributed pines in the Asia-Pacific region and is found in the northeast India, northern Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, southernmost China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The said tree species is commonly found in the Cordilleras and grown in the various mountain ranges of the region.
The ordinance disclosed Baguio City, which is nicknamed the City of Pines, is noted to have large stands of the said species that grows up to 30 to 35 meters in height with a straight cylindrical trunk. Its bark is thick and dark brown, with deep longitudinal fissures. The branches are robust, red-brown from the second year, the branchlets horizontal to dropping. The leaves are needle-like, dark green, usually three per fascicle, measuring 15 to 20 centimeters long, the cones are ovoid, often curved downwards, sometimes slightly distorted; the scales of the cones are dense and sometimes spinous.
The city’s environment code provides for the protection and conservation of pinus kesiya due to its importance to the ecology, tourism, and economy of the city.
The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology and Environmental Preservation and Protection for its study and recommendation.
By Dexter A. See
