ROOTS OF LIFE. One thousand seedlings of narra and mahogany trees have been planted in Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas on Saturday. Town officials, journalists and local celebrities were among those who took part in the environmantal effort. (Photo by: Pot Chavez)
CUENCA, Batangas – The local government unit (LGU) here has vowed to protect Mt. Maculot, which has served as its cover against the ashes of Taal Volcano and a haven for fleeing wildlife from eruption-affected areas in the province.
In an interview Sunday, Mayor Alex Magpantay said the mountain blocks the carbon being emitted by the volcano and serves as the town’s protection, in case of an eruption.
The town, located within the 14-kilometer radius danger zone of Taal, has barangays on the lakeside that would take the brunt of an eruption.
However, the locals believe that the town is still a safer place because of the mountain.
A tree-planting activity in the jump-off trail of Mt. Maculot was initiated on Saturday in celebration of National Arbor Day, led by Sonshine Media Network International, with at least 500 volunteers from different government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from the private sector.
One thousand seedlings of narra and mahogany were planted by participants from the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Cuenca Municipal Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection-Cuenca, winners of the Mutya ng Cuenca 2023, Batangas Varsitarian fraternity, social media influencers, and town officials.
The Cuenca LGU also partnered with the Air Force early this year for a tree-planting effort in the mountain.
“It is very important that we have tree-planting activities in the town because the man-made efforts we are currently doing go hand in hand with natural rehabilitation of the mountain,” Magpantay said.
Access to the mountain is still limited since its closure to tourists in the early months of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Magpantay assured that it would not be permanently off-limits as the drafting of a municipal ordinance supporting the tourism and environmental preservation of the mountain is still pending.
“We will continue to study and clarify the penalties that we can put in the ordinance, along with the establishment of the tourism building in the town,” he said.
The Philippines celebrates Arbor Day every June 25 as the state recognizes “the necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem for our people through the rehabilitation and regreening of our environment” while a day each year for actual tree planting will “foster partnership and environmental stewardship among various sectors in our society.” (PNA)
