LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Keeping things smooth sailing to give way for the construction of farm-to-market roads takes a unified effort among affected residents and other stakeholders.
Such was the case with the community and other stakeholders who joined efforts in planting trees along the widened portions of two farm-to-market roads in Atok and Kabayan, said Julius Kollin, head of the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO).
One of the conditionalities of the farm-to-market road widening of Jose Mencio and Km 49 – Ambakian farm-to-market roads is replacement of trees which were cut with the necessary permit secured by the provincial government from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The road projects are under the Philippine Rural Development Project of the Department of Agriculture.
Kollin said what is good in this undertaking is that the planting of trees is a concerted effort among the provincial government, barangay officials, schools, and affected individual lot owners.
A total of 2,150 Arabica coffee seedlings and 100 Caliandra seedlings procured by the provincial government were planted along the roadsides of the said road projects in June and July. Apart from maintaining the ecological balance along the road, these trees will also benefit the people , Kollin said.
Aside from the provincial government, those who took part in the tree planting activities were barangays of Topdac and Poblacion in Atok, Atok National High School, Cating Elementary School, and private individuals who were affected by the projects.
The provincial government will also establish a nursery in the area for the barangay tanod to maintain in preparation for the next planting season as those planted are still not enough. Monitoring of the survival rate of the planted trees will done, he added.
By: PIA, Benguet
