“We share the same hopes… to have a healthy environment and to enjoy clean water and fresh air.”

These hopes shared by Julius Miguel, the municipal planning and development coordinator of Quirino have been realized following the success of the established Gmelina plantation in town.

LGU Quirino was awarded with 150-hectare plantation under the National Greening Program in 2016.

Committed to promote environmental preservation, LGU Quirino delightfully worked on the plantation tapping the barangay officials, locals, 4Ps and TUPAD beneficiaries to conduct planting and maintenance and protection activities.

 “Our municipality also allotted budget for the establishment of perimeter fence to secure the area. The budget we received from DENR were used for the preparation of the site and for the seedlings we initially planted,” Miguel said.

He also said they hired workers for nursery establishment, seedling production and for maintenance and protection. “Dito na rin sila nakatira para mabantayan ang plantation lalo na kung magsisiga ang mga may ari ng katabing pastulan. Sayang ang pinaghirapan namin ng limang taon kung masisira lang,” he added.

After five years of working and maintaining the plantation, they now enjoy a mini green sanctuary in town where egrets and other migratory birds frequently join them.

“You see, we need places like this. We enjoy seeing more trees and at the same time we help our environment recover,” Miguel said.#