Tabuk City, Kalinga – The City, Kalinga State University, and the Philippine Institute of Environment Planners (PIEP) Kalinga entered into a tripartite agreement for the enhancement of a tree park within the school campus as an added tourist destination in the locality.
City Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero, KSU President Eduardo T. Bagtang, and PIEP President and City Planning and Development Officer Maricel D. Kiley, agreed to develop and maintain a trekking and eco-park that will serve as a tourism destination once established.
The collaboration of the three parties sought to promote ecological balance and climate change mitigation within the university which will primarily benefit the students, teachers and the community.
Ms. Kiley, already prepared the site development plan of the proposed tree park while the other two parties have a joint responsibility in the propagation and maintenance of the same.
Mayor Estrañero will request the City Assessors Office to look into the possibility of opening a barangay road near the KAELCO’s main office so the park will be more accessible to the public. Moreover, the master development plan will also be prepared.
“Ustu met lang ta ma-design so that we will not just be planting trees everywhere. Dapat makita nga adda ti picnic area, mini-forest area, and there should be a pathway,” Estrañero said.
Dr. Bagtang suggested to incorporate pebbles in the pathway and put a legend containing the history of Tabuk in every resting area.
“Addan to ti area nga ikattem ti sapatos mo tapno mariknam digiyay pebbles a medicinal. Adda ti rest area so we can put a chart containing Tabuk’s history. Habang nga aginana da ket basbasaen da,” Bagtang added.
The KSU Tree Park is a half-hectare land currently maintained by the students of the College of Forestry. Before, this site was a wasteland prone to wildfires, but not until the PIEP-Kalinga Chapter identified it as a perfect spot to build a new recreational place because of its eye-catching sceneries.
The MOA signing happened during the second day of the Matagoan Festival, where the city government distributed 300 seedlings to different locations such as Agbannawag, Lacnog, Bulo, and KSU.
Further, the signed agreement will be transmitted to the City Council for their confirmation.
By Rain Sarol
Photo by Armando Bolislis
