In celebration of Philippine Arbor Day, 80 residents of Taguig City were the first recipients of the rolling Community PanTREE held by the DENR National Capital Region in southern Metro Manila on Friday, 25 June 2021.

Through its South Field Office (SFO), the regional office was able to distribute 1,000 vegetables and 242 fruit-bearing seedlings after a short program held at the covered court of Barangay Lower Bicutan. Those who lined up were given up to 3 fruit-bearing and 10 vegetables seedlings each. These include Duhat, Kasoy, Atis, Langka, Guyabano, Pechay, and Mustasa.

SFO Chief Environmental Officer Bobby Tagapan said that the activity was an off-shoot of the successful Community PanTREE first held at the DENR-NCR Technical Services compound in Quezon City during the celebration of Earth Day.

He reminded the beneficiaries to abide by the Community PanTREE’s theme, “Magtanim ayon sa kakayanan, umani ayon sa pangangailangan.” As part of the program, Forester Haser Hasbi of the SFO gave a brief orientation on the proper handling and caring of the seedlings.

The program was also attended by Taguig City Environment and Natural Resources Office representatives Loody Basilio, Lower Bicutan Barangay Chair Roel Pacayra, and Kagawad Norman Sta. Ana. Abiding with the minimum anti-COVID-19 health and safety protocol, the distribution of the seedlings was led by foresters of the South Field Office

The Community PanTREE Project will also be rolled out to other cities in southern Metro Manila, which encourages everyone to plant trees and vegetables as an alternative source of food at this time of pandemic. Its success has led to its replication in other DENR regional offices nationwide.

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