BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed resolution requesting all public utility transport group operators and drivers to conduct an annual tree planting and cleanup drive within their chosen areas in the city.
The Committee on Public Utilities, Traffic and Transport Legislation sponsored the approval of the earlier proposal of Senior Citizen Official for a Day (SCOFAD) Councilor Andrew Sagandoy in the local legislative body relative to the required annual tree planting and cleanup of the transport groups around the city.
The resolution stated the need to have various tree planting activities to bring back the greenery of the mountain slopes, the excellent record of the city in terms of regreening and cleanliness and to help the government enhance the campaign against climate change as well as the reduction of the emitted carbon dioxide in the city’s air.
According to the proposal, tree planting activities should be done side by side with the cleanup of city roads, drainage systems and other waterways to maintain the good state of the city’s environment.
The resolution claimed public utility vehicles are reportedly the main contributors of carbon dioxide being emitted into the city’s air, thus, it is necessary that before the grant of terminals or staging areas, the issuance and renewal of their certificates of conveyance or licenses, transport operators and driversmust be actively involved in a mandatory tree planting and cleanup drive in their identified plantation sites.
The resolution took note that Baguio City was a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award for being the cleanest and greenest highly urbanized city sometime in 1995 and the city’s success served as a benchmark for other local governments to emulate.
The concerned transport groups will coordinate with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) for the identification of their proposed plantation and cleanup sites and for the provision of the tree seedlings.
Various sectors are actively involved in the conduct of tree planting activities around the city to help bring back the greenery of the different areas that must be reforested.
The resolution stated the presence of assorted tree species in the city’s environment helps in sustaining the cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic spots which are the primary tourist attractions year-round.
The CEPMO will monitor the compliance of the transport groups to the said request as it will be the one to identify the potential plantation sites and provide the tree seedlings.
The resolution will be furnished to the various public utility vehicle associations in the city for their information, guidance, ready reference and further action and for the associations to ascertain the time of the year when to start their tree planting activities and for them to monitor the growth of the seedlings that they planted.
By Dexter A. See
