BAGUIO CITY – Officials of the Cordillera office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-CAR) revealed that tree planting and clean-up activities will be the major highlights of the week-long Unity Gong Relay in the different parts of the region from July 9-15, 2015.
The DENR-CAR is this year’s lead agency in the celebration of the 28th founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) considering that its regional director is the chairman of the Regional Development Council’s environment and watershed management committee.
Engr. Ralph Pablo, DENR-CAR regional executive director, said tree planting and cleanup activities are directly related to the core functions lof the agency for environmental preservation and protection that is why the said activities will be done to remind the people regionwide to value the importance of trees and having clean surroundings.
“We have to sustain our efforts to educate our people to value the importance of preserving the God-given environment so that the present and future generations will be able to enjoy fresh air and clean surroundings,” Pablo stressed.
The week-long CAR founding anniversary activities will formally kick off in Luna, Apayao where this year’s host province will spearhead the launching activities through a well-organized program of activities that will also jumpstart of the Unity Gong Relay on July 9.
He said the tree planting and cleanup activities will be done by all the participatns to the Unity Gong Relay in every stop in the different provinces to send the clear message to the people that efforts to preserve nad protect the environment should start from themselves, contaminate their family members and their community as a whole.
The symbolic gong will be brought by Apayao officilas led by Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. to Kalinga in the afternoon of July 9 where it will be received by Kalinga officials led by Gov. Jocel C. Baac in the boundary of Rizal town.
On July 10, Kalinga officials led by Gov. Baac will bring the symbolic gong to Ifugao and the turnover will be done within the boundary of Lamut town where Ifugao officials led by Gov. Dennis Habawel will be receiving the said gong.
On July 11, Ifugao officials led by Gov. Habawel will also bring the symbolic gong to Mountain Province where they will be met by Mountain Province officials led by Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen at the Mount Polis provincial boundary before proceeding to the capital town of Bontoc where the formal progaam will be done.
On July 12, Mountain Province officials led by Mayaen will be proceeding to the Mount Data boundary where they will turnover the symbolic gong to Benguet officials led by Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan before proceeding to the Benguet Provincial Capitol for the formal program.
On July 13, Benguet officials led by Fongwan will be bringing the symbolic gong to the Baguio City Hall where he will turnover the same to Baguio City officials led by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan.
On July 14, Baguio City officials led by Mayor Domogan will be proceeding to Abra where they will turnover the symbolic gong to Abra officials led by Gov. Eustquio Bersamin at the Tangadan tunnel and Bersamin, who is also the RDC-CAR chairman, will be bringing back the gong to Apayao for the formal program of the 28th CAR founding anniversary by July 15 where Senator Aquilino Pimentel IV will be serving as the guest of honor and speaker.
In Apayao, guests and visitors who will be arriving early will have the chance to join the Eco-tour to the famous Marag Valley on July 13 and a similar Eco-tour to the Lussok caves and Nagan river on July 14.
Moreover, Apayao will also be hosting the week-long agro-industrial fair where unique products from the different parts of the region will be displayed in order to promote the same for possible market to guests and visitors.
By Dexter A. See
