BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Students and members of non-governmental organizations on Wednesday planted mangroves at the Wetland Park here to help save the environment during the celebration of the 2nd IbongDayo Festival.
Aside from planting tree seedlings, volunteers also paid P20 per seedling as donation to the local fishery council.
“Sa pamamagitan ng tree planting, makikita ang pagmamahal natin sa kalikasan. Malaking tulong ang mga puno na gumagawa ng oxygen at lumalanghap ng nakalalasong carbon monoxide,” said Renzo Baluyot.
He said he wanted to help in the preservation of the Wetland Park to show the beauty of the environment that everyone could be proud of.
“Ang mga puno ng itinatanim namin ay magsisilbing tirahan ng mga ibon, ng mga migratory birds na dumarayo sa Balanga,” Rose Ann Mateo said.
Baluyot, Mateo and Ana T. Banzon were among the students from the Bataan National High School in Balanga who paid and joined the mangrove planting.
The Knights of Columbus led by businessman Rey Gonzales and other NGO members also joined the planting of bakawan.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III thanked all groups who contributed to the success of the 2nd Ibong Dayo festival and the city’s inclusion among the birdwatching sites in the country.
“In the protection of the birds, we have an ulterior motive because we are doing this not only for them but also for us because the birds are part and parcel of the environment,” Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia said.
“By safeguarding the environment, we may at least alleviate the worsening effect of climate change,” the governor added.
Domingo Ramon Enerio II, assistant secretary of the Department of Toursim, said “mapalad ang Bataan dahil sa biyaya ng kalikasan at pagkakaroon ng Wetland Park.”
He said that of the 600 species of birds in the country, 200 are endemic or those that can only be found in the Philippines. “There are 200 reasons why foreign tourists want to go to the Philippines,” he said.
The festival started with a long parade with three brass bands providing music. Liquefied Petroleum Gas-powered tricycles adorned with replica of migratory birds were at the head of the motorcade.
Many elementary school pupils and residents lined up streets in the city as the motorcade passed by.
