16 century, heritage trees tagged on Arbor Day

By: Sheila Covarrubias

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 26 (PIA)- - City dad Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday led the city government officials in the tagging of century and heritage trees located mostly at the R.T. Lim Boulevard area in celebration of Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga.

The tagging of trees is based on Ordinance 341 which declares trees that are more than 100years old as century trees and those that are considered ecologically, historically or culturally valuable or belonging to a rare specie or are adjacent or near a water source, spring or well and whose cutting or destruction will disrupt or destroy the water source as heritage trees.

Special programs with matching drum and lyre and honor guards were organized by the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College led by Dr. Nora Ponce and the Brent Hospital and Colleges Inc. administration Dr. Raymond Sator ushering in the tagging of the century and heritage trees with metal plates.

Mayor Lobregat said Ordinance 341 prohibits subjecting such trees to “any cutting or any form of destruction, except for medical, public emergency, public safety and botanical reasons.”

Assisting the mayor in tagging the trees were department heads— City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Rey Gonzales, City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Rodrigo Sicat and City Assessor and Ponce and Sator.

The city government this year has declared 16 trees for preservation—8 acacia trees declared as century trees and 8 others various types of trees declared as heritage trees. Of the total 16 trees—6 are located at the ZCSPC, 3 at the vicinity of the Brent Hospital and Colleges, Inc.;  3 inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus; one at vicinity of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; 1 at the 9^th Maritime Mobile Group Station and 2 at the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm area.

Mayor Lobregat stressed that environmental protection does not only call for the planting of new trees but also entails the preservation and protection of all trees.

From 2009 to 2011, the city government has declared as preserved a total of 82 trees—46 of which are century trees and 36 are heritage trees.  (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)