Around 1,700 volunteers planted a total of 7,790 seedlings of bamboo and indigenous species in the entire Cagayan Valley during the tree growing activity of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in celebration of the Philippine Arbor Day with the theme “Bike. Hike. Plant.”

 

This was participated in by members of the different biker associations, representatives from the national government agencies, local government units, people's organizations, civil society organizations, academe, and other partners in environmental protection and development.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan in her message expressed gratitude to the stakeholders as she appealed to the barangay officials in the community to nurture the trees planted. She also emphasized the importance of tree growing to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

 

Participating biker groups were Tuguegarao Siklista, Cycling Association of Cagayan, Tuguegarao Cyclist, Team Ukod Bikers, Ballog Bikers Club, Quirino State University Cycling University, Rotary Club Quirino Rapids, Maddela Mountain Bikers Association, 2nd Quirino Mobile Force Company Bikers, Team Otubs, Kapedal, Bay-sol, Barako Boys, and San Nicolas Bikers.

 

Indigenous seedlings such as narra, mayapis, kalumpit, tuai, vutalao, kamagong, arius, talisay, chayi and riwas were planted in various National Greening Program sites in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Batanes.

 

In the Philippines, Arbor Day has been observed every June 25 throughout the nation by planting trees and ornamental plants and conducting other forms of relevant activities by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 643 s. 2004.#