THE Synchronized Tree Planting (STP) activities of the National Tobacco Administration now on its ninth year as a regular event of the celebrations of its Founding Anniversary were held in various areas in major tobacco growing activities last week.
NTA Abra opened the activity with the planting of more than 800 seedlings of gmelina by the local government of Pilar headed by Mayor Mark Roland B. Somera and Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina S. Disono, and planting volunteers from different government offices and sectors.
This was held at barangay Poblacion, Pilar Abra on July 28.
Volunteers from the Provincial Environment and Natural Office (PENRO-Abra), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – Pilar, Philippine National Police (PNP) – Pilar, Provincial Government of Abra, Department of Education (DepEd) Division Office, and staff from the Municipal Office of Pilar, and NTA Branch Office also attended the opening program at the town plaza.
Mayor Somera, in his message, commended NTA Abra Branch for bringing the activity to the Municipality of Pilar and vowed to continue promoting the environmental practices and sustainability of the industry through development projects for the tobacco growers.
According to Jose A. Taclas Jr., acting Branch Agriculturist, the gmelina seedlings were propagated in nurseries of a tobacco farmer and tobacco seedling growers, Camilo Pamlas of Poblacion, Pilar and Israel A. Corre of Sta. Rosa, Bangued.
Other NTA Branch Offices and the Farm Technology and Services Department (FTSD) joined the activities on July 30 in their respective coverage areas:
NTA Candon in Sto. Tomas, Candon City and in Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; NTA Ilocos Norte in Nagpatayan, Bangsar, Imelda and Caribquib in Banna and in Aglipay, Bulbulala, Bungro, Dalayap and Puritac in Pinili, Ilocos Norte; FTSD in Parangopong Experimental Research Station, Parangopong, Batac City; NTA Pangasinan in three areas (Mangandingay, San Manuel, Tarlac; Calmay, Laoac, Pangasinan; and Vacante, Alcala, Pangasinan); NTA Cagayan in Marobbob, Amulung, Cagayan; and NTA Isabela in Yeban Norte, Benito Soliven and Aga, Delfin Albano, Isabela.
NTA La Union conducted the tree-planting activities amidst intermittent rain on August 6 in San Francisco Norte and Bigbiga in Sudipen La Union.
Planting volunteers were barangay officials, health workers, residents, and members of the Confederation of Samahang Ilocano Inc., Sudipen, La Union Chapter.
According to NTA La Union Branch Manager Dr. Giovanni B. Palabay, another tree planting activity will be held in barangay Narra Oeste, San Fernando City on August 13.
Meanwhile, NTA Vigan headed by Branch Manager Minerva P. Mizal, along with 111 volunteers, mostly tobacco farmers, took part in the tree planting activities in different planting sites in Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, and San Ildefonso on Friday.
Manager Mizal and her staff had to hike and cross a river on foot to reach the planting site in barangay Maratudo in Magsingal.
NTA Vigan targets to plant 25,000 seedlings of gmelina, mahogany, and ipil-ipil to each of the barangays in the first district of Ilocos Sur, the branch coverage area.
The tree planting activity is supplementary to the NTA’s livelihood assistance under its Kahuyang Pangkabuhayan at Pangkalikasan (KPP) module, a component of its Renewable Fuelwood Energy Farm Development Project and Restoration of Ecological Integrity Program.
The project aims to help reinstate the ecological integrity of the tobacco-growing regions and contribute to the government’s effort to improve water irrigation in farm lands, soil erosion, and lessen flooding potential.
The agency is targeting to plant at least 1 million seedlings this year in various planting sites.
[Melanie Rapiz-Parel / Photo credit: Marife P. Peralta and Ryan Jay Z. Sape]