The city council has approved the request of the City Environment and Parks Management Office to implement two more activities for the celebration of the 2022 Saleng (Pine Tree) Festival.
These two activities are the Forest Products Week and the Green Business Expo.
The Forest Products Week aims to “recognize the importance of forests by showcasing the wood and non-wood products and by highlighting their environmental value over alternative materials.”
The Green Business Expo, with the theme “Towards a Greener Entrepreneurship,” seeks to promote environment-friendly businesses.
The activities will be held at Igorot Park and Melvin Jones, respectively, from June 5 to July 5.
Earlier this year, the city council institutionalized the Saleng Festival in the city through an ordinance.
The festival will take off during the fourth regular Monday flag-raising ceremony every May to unveil the calendar of activities for the celebration from June to September every year.
The launching is also in support of the International Day for Biological Diversity celebrated every May 22.
The ordinance was crafted based on the program presented and implemented by the Cepmo together with the inputs of stakeholders during a public consultation conducted by the city council.
Included in the calendar of activities of the festival are tree cart parade, tree cart exhibit, recognition and awarding of best tree cart, International Day for Biological Diversity, World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, National Arbor Day, National Clean-up Month and World Clean and Green Week, Green Thumb Awards, and Cycling for the Environment.
An amount of P200,000 is allocated in the annual budget of Cepmo to cover all budgetary requirements for the purpose.
The institutionalization of the Saleng Festival shall encourage Baguio citizens to be proactive partners of the city government in its urban forest stewardship management program, thereby building community ownership of urban trees and forests.
The first Saleng Festival was launched on May 24, 2021 with the theme “Restoring our Ecosystem Together.”
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the Saleng Festival aims to highlight the importance of the cooperation and commitment of the community in preserving the environment. – Jordan G. Habbiling
