On August 16, 2024, the Municipal Environment Natural Resources Council (MENRC) conducted a tree planting activity in Sitio Anuvang, Tinongdan, Itogon. During the event, participants planted Pine trees and Oak Trees. The activity was in collaboration with various government agencies and private sector entities, including Barangay local government units (BLGUs) of Tinongdan, Poblacion, and Loacan, Philippine National Police (PNP) โ Itogon, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Baguio City, and National Power Corporation โ Upper Agno River Watershed Team (NPC – UARWAT), and Philex Mining Corporation.
Earlier this year, on January 26, the mountainous area of barangay Dalupirip, and Tinongdan was caught in a forest fire that burned 50 hectares as reported by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Additionally, Sitio Anuvang was hit by a landslide during a typhoon that struck Luzon. These events prompted the MENRC to take action by organizing the tree planting activity.
Marilou Besa-ang, Forest Technician II of CENRO and a resident of barangay Tinongdan emphasized the importance of the activity in replacing trees lost to landslides and forest fires.
Jason Banisoc, Administrative assistant of MENRO and a resident of Barangay Tinongdan stated that, โ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข ๐ต๐ถ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ข ๐ช๐ด๐ถ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ต๐ช ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐ช๐ฅ๐ซ๐ข๐บ forest ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต๐ช quality ๐ต๐ช ๐ญ๐ถ๐จ๐ข๐ณโ (It is a great help as it also helps maintain the forest and quality of the place). He added that since the barangay has no mining activities, the ecological balance remains 75% intact, with 20% affected by land developments.
Banisoc and Besa-ang added the importance of involving the youth in these activities, as they are the next generation responsible for protecting the environment.
One of the IP leaders and members of Tinongdan Indigenous Peoples Organization Inc. (TINPO), Maxie Pedro highlighted the significance of tree planting in preserving the environment. He expounded that this activity plays a vital role in restricting the affected mountains from calamities. He concluded by stating that tree planting is essential for the regeneration of balding mountains.
