CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Governor Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda led a tree planting activity at Villa Maria, Porac town in line with the celebration of the 118th anniversary of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) with the theme, “Lingkod Bayani: Kilos para sa Kalikasan”.
SGMA personally requested to plant “lunas bundok” also known as anti-ahas, to lessen the cases of snake bites involving residents in the mountain village.
The Speaker of the House also commended the activity of the CSC, headed by Chairperson Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala. According to her, this is timely since the country is always prone to flooding.
She also mentioned that this will help more in the nature beautification, food manufacturing and security, and tourism industry.
Pineda, meanwhile, thanked the village chief of Villa Maria, Rogelio Valencia, and Brgy Inararo, Venzon King, for exerting effort in taking good care and preserving their ancestral home.
The lady governor also lauded the residents for their ‘responsible care of the forest.’
With this, she added, there has been no reports of landslides in the area.
Meanwhile, Bala expressed her gratitude for the presence of the participants in joining the unified and simultaneous tree planting.
Moreover, SGMA and Pineda also distributed relief goods to some residents there.
They were assisted by Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) Assistant Regional Director III Irene Crespo, Porac Mayor Carling Dela Cruz and Vice Mayor Dexter David, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Head Elizabeth Baybayan, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) Chief Arthur Punzalan and Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) Head Amelia Bondoc.
For David’s part, the Vice Mayor extended his thanks to SGMA and the provincial government for always sending help to his constituents, especially for the Aetas.
The two women leaders were also assisted by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary Marcos Fragada, CSC Regional Director III Nelson Sarmiento, DENR Regional Director III Paquito Moreno Jr., Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Head Laudemir Salac and CSC Field Office Pampanga Director II Emily Reyes. -Leah Isidro De Fiesta