In response to the United Nations (UN) resolution No. 2994 and the national celebration of World Environment Day, the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) undertook activities that demonstrate commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the environment such as community clean-up drives.
Community Clean-up drives
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) scheduled the environment month activities. One of the highlights of this month’s activity is the Clean-up drive that was held last Friday, June 7, 2024, in the four Central barangays of Bontoc.
According to Edna Lyn L. Silverio, OIC-PENR Officer, the purpose of this activity is to support and protect the Inland, Wetland, Water bodies, World Ocean Day, and River Life preservation efforts.
One of the kagawads of Barangay Caluttit, Arcenio Cariño said that this clean-up drive activity is not only to maintain their barangay clean and green but also to lessen the cases of Dengue in the province.
“Daytoy clean-up drive activity ket tapno mapasayaat ken mataginayon ti kinadalus ken eco-friendly nga aglawlaw ti barangay ken makatulong met a mangikkat kadagiti basura ken mangmulit kadagiti kaarruba, parke ken waterways…agserbi daytoy nga aktibidad a kas maysa a pangrugian a solusion tapno maksayan ti umad-adu nga isyu ti dengue seknan iti Provincial Health Office.”
Airene Esilen, one of the volunteers, said that by participating in clean-up drive activities, it can educate residents about environmental responsibility and the importance of maintaining cleanliness. This is also to promote cooperation and strengthen the bonds of each resident in the community.
Environment as the Source of Life
The Environment has always been the backbone of every community, without its resources, one society cannot survive.
In connection with this, the Coordinator of National Greening Program (NGP), Jona Palpal shared a story about why there were so many forests in Mountain Province.
According to her, way back 1995, there was a research team who wanted to document how Mountain Province got this many forest trees. Their target was to come up with a policy of harvesting, “ta bawal ngarud iti agharvest within the forest land” (it is illegal to harvest within the forest land), she said.
She added that CENRO-Sabangan came to visit communities specifically to meet the council of elders and have a conversation with them or what they call “Atu” and “Dap-ay” over a bottle of Gin. Palpal explained that the purpose of this is, “rumwar iti sa-oda nu agininumda” (alcohol will make them talk).
She then explained that when the elders were younger, they would go further from their town just to get fuel wood. “ket uray mapan da umadayo, man-manu laeng iti kanlasan nga maalada” (even though they went far, all they could get was shrubs or small trees). While on their way to get fuel woods, the [elders] realized that there were wild leaves of pine trees, they will get those and plant them near the province. Palpal explained, “Kayat da nga umasideg iti kayo idgy pagilianda tapnu haanda unay umad-adayo” (they want the trees to be near the province so that they won’t go far).
The elders know the importance of taking care Environment in the community because they once and always benefit from it—that the importance of the environment in each community is not only for the future but also to sustain the sources of food, life, water, and clean air.
For future generations, this is not new, but rather, a reminder for all of us that what we do now, will have a great impact on what lies ahead of us.
