PCOO plants 450 pine trees at adopted park in Baguio City

An initial of 450 pine trees were planted on Aug. 12 at a tree park adopted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in Baguio City.
The Philippine Information Agency-Cordillera, Philippine News Agency-Baguio Bureau, PTV-Cordillera, and Radyo Pilipinas planted two Norfolk trees aside from the 450 pine saplings at the Pine Trees of the World Park inside the Burnham Park reservation.
Helen Tibaldo, PIA-Cordillera regional director, said they spearheaded the adoption as part of their compliance to the tree replacement policy of the city government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
PIA-Cordillera is set to build its regional office, which will lead to the felling of 12 matured Anchoan dilao trees and two avocado trees to give way to the structure.
Tibaldo said under the guidelines of the city government, every tree, regardless of age and species to be cut, must be replaced with 30 three-foot tall Benguet pine trees.
The DENR, however, requires 100 seedlings as replacement.
Tibaldo said the 14 trees were replaced with 450 Benguet pine trees aside from the two Norfolk trees.
Additional seedlings will still be produced to comply with the DENR requirement.
“We will schedule a visit once a month for the nurturing of the trees planted,” she said.
Forester Walter Aguirre, environmental officer II of the City Environment and Parks Management Office, said they encourage residents to plant trees so that the city’s environment will be preserved. 
The planting is a requirement for the grant of a building permit for the construction of PIA’s permanent office.
PCOO has earmarked P26 million for the construction of the building through the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Tibaldo said they can only be issued a tree cutting permit once they comply with planting the replacement trees.
The PIA-Cordillera is currently leasing a two-story residential house at the Brookside-Modern Aurora Hill area for its operation.
Three years ago, PIA-Cordillera vacated the Cordillera House in front of the Mansion. – PNA