MAGALANG, Pampanga–This town is now “greener” by 2,000 trees as the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Pampanga chapter held its 6th BroadcasTreeing Project in Barangay Ayala here on Saturday.
Earning the support of more than 500 invidivuals coming from various government and private organizations, the KBP and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ascended on the slope of Mt. Arayat to reforest the mountain with narra and a variety of fruit-bearing trees.
The event, which was held simultaneously with similar activities of other KBP chapters throughout the archipelago, became a virtual pilgrimage for the volunteers as they had to endure a two-kilometer walk on steep terrain to reach the tree-planting site identified by Technical Services Division Chief Rommel Santiago of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
It was an hour climb that passed thru the 14th Station of the Banal na Bundok (Holy Mountain) where larger-than-life images of the Passion of the Christ are mounted for Catholic devotees.
Fernando “Perry” Pangan, KBP Pampanga Chapter Chairman, expressed gratitude to the partner agencies who have been supporting the project since its first installation six years ago along the Abacan River in Barangay San Juan, Mexico town. Participating agencies include: Samahan ng mga Magsasaka ng Ayala sa Mataas na Lupa, Inc.; Municipal Government of Magalang; Philippine Army; Philippine Air Force Air Defense Wing; Bureau of Fire Protection Region 3; City Environment and Natural Resources Office of the City of San Fernando; Department of Interior and Local Government Region 3; Laus Group of Companies; Mabalacat City Water District; Pampanga Medical Society; Philippine National Police Region 3; Rotary International District 3790 Area 4-A; Tau Gamma Phi Magalang Council; Basa Air Base High School; San Fernando Elementary School; SM Supermalls; Jollibee Dolores; Jollibee Sindalan; Jollibee Balibago; Jelexie Bakeshop; Aqua Sparkletts, St. Anthony Drugstore and Pampanga’s Best, Inc.
“For the past six years, these individuals and agencies–both from the government and private sector–have been our partners in making this world a better place to live in. We are all doing our share to help heal Mother Earth,” Pangan said.
Philippine broadcasters, he said, cannot take the issue of climate change sitting down in the comfort of their station but have to walk out of their offices and start greening the world one tree at a time.
“We are not here merely to spread the word but also to save the world from climate change,” Pangan added. Other media organizations that were present include DWRW 95.1 FM, Brigada News 92.7 FM, CLTV 36, GNN 44, B.U.K.A.S. Bayan, iOrbit News Online and Pampanga Press Club. Magalang Mayor Malu Paras-Lacson lauded the groups for their effort to support the government’s millennium development goal which targets to plant millions of trees all over the nation.
She said the project is also in consonance with the local government unit’s greening program of the town that sits right at the foothills of Mount Arayat.