In compliance with Proclamation no. 396 of 2003 which recognized the necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem through the rehabilitation and re-greening of the environment by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities, likewise, ordinance No. 281 declares and observes the 25th of June of every year as “Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga”.

        The City Government of Zamboanga through the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources had spearheaded the planting of mangrove propagules within the coastal zone of barangay Talon-Talon in observance of Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga last June 25, 2022, Saturday.

 Before the said event, the technical staff of this Office has made a series of coordination meetings with the staff of DENR-CENRO, Zamboanga City for status verification of areas that have been identified and selected by this Office to be the tree planting site within the coastal Zone of Barangay Talon-Talon in celebrating the Arbor Day na Ciudad de Zamboanga. This is also in compliance with the verbal instruction of the City Mayor to celebrate this Environmental event in the coastal zone of Barangay Talon-Talon during her visit to the place last May 22, 2022.

On June 9, 2022, as a result of the aforementioned coordination meetings, The DENR- CENRO ZC furnished with this Office a GIS-generated map of the identified and selected sites containing an area of 9.29 hectares and informed this Office that the area is available for the conduct of rehabilitation and restoration of the mangrove areas for the said celebration.

The Site preparation was undertaken by the Seven (7) Job order and casual personnel of this office who are also assigned to maintain and protect the existing City’s mangrove plantation project in the coastal areas of barangay Talon-Talon and Mampang. The said planting site was set into Six (6) blocks with 8,520 bamboo staking of 2- meters by 2-meter spacing as a guide in the planting of the mangrove propagules.

On June 25, 2022, Saturday, before the planting activity, a short program was held at the platform stage near the planting site, Mayor Climaco acknowledge the participation of the different agencies and lauded their efforts in the environmental protection and preservation. The Mayor likewise commended the City Environment and Natural Resources Office – OCENR for continuously undertaking initiatives to protect and preserve the environment.

       One of the highlights during the program was the presentation of the Certificate of Recognition to OCENR employee Mr. Edison Faustino Delos Reyes for his dedication to service even if it almost caused his life.

At exactly 8:30 in the morning, the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Reynaldo Gonzales had officially announced the start of the planting activity and participants were advised to follow and observe their designated area/site for planting the mangrove propagules.  

The said activity was participated by a total of 1,400 individuals/ participants representing different Offices under City Government Offices, National Government Agencies, Government-owned and controlled corporations, Hospitals,  Academe, Non-Government organizations, Business Sector, and Security Sector. The participants have successfully planted 8,520 indigenous mangrove propagules at the spacing of 2 meters by 2 meters that have covered an area of 3.4 hectares of planted mangrove propagules.

 Below are identified sites (block colors) for mangrove propagules planting with a corresponding number of propagules planted and the area planted.

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