LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, – – More than 170 stakeholders including 200 school children joined the Adopt-a-Tree program of the local government for the planting of trees along the major thoroughfare on Friday.
They planted two varieties of Eugenio trees with reddish and green in hue and the variegated type aligned along both sides of the highway after the municipal building until before the Km 6 Police Outpost to enhance the bustling highway and to serve as carbon sink.
The activity was in line with the town’s celebration of 69th Foundation Day and Earth Month.
Mayor Romeo Salda said the program involved school children to inculcate in them the value of environmental preservation.
The local government with its Local Council for the Protection of Children came up with the idea where a child identified by involved elementary schools here is partnered with a local official, government employee, private sector representative, volunteer or a family among others for the adoption of a tree which they will nurture and ensure its survival.
Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Arthur Pedro said apart from aesthetics, the planting of trees helps in carbon sequestration meaning trees capture carbon dioxide emitted especially vehicles traversing the road system. The highway along Km 5 to Km 6 highway contains air pollutants based on the quarterly conduct of the Environment and Management Bureau. **JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet
