Mr. Swapnil, adjudicator of Guinness, announced that Bataan successfully planted 223,390 trees surpassing India’s record of 208,751.
More than 20,000 people participated in the planting of various seedlings of forest trees like eucalyptus, narra, and fruit trees like cashew, in more than 20 hectares of public lands in the mountain side of Barangay General Lim below the giant War Memorial Cross in Mount Samat.
“Congratulations. The project was wonderfully done,” the Indian national said after a long and rigid validation of the results.
Gov. Albert Garcia and Orion Mayor Antonio Raymundo beamed with joy as they received the Guinness certificate.
The governor said they have two purposes for the massive tree-planting activity. “Una, gusto nating matulungan ang environment. Kapag nagtanim ng puno, kapalit nito soil protection at oxygen para sa Bataan at sa bansa,” he said.
“Pangalawa, we want to send a strong message why we want to get the world record. The message is – Ang Bataan mabilis magdevelop, mabilis lumago ang ekonomiya pero at the same time, gusto nating balansihin ang environmental protection,” Garcia said.
As early as 4 a.m., thousands trooped to the planting site. Many hiked uphill traversing more than four kilometers of concrete and dirt roads.
Planting started at 10 a.m. and in less than an hour, the activity in close watch by the police, private auditing firm and Guinness adjudicators was finished.
Last March 18, 2016, Balanga City beat Mexico City in the Guinness World Records’ category of Dance Fitness Exercise after 16,218 people joined the “hataw” along the 2.2-kilometer long four-lane road in the city.
