“YUTA kong minahal” couldn’t be truer for 860 graduating students and pupils of Catigbian who planted some 4,355 fruit bearing trees during the inaugural launching of the Project “Plant and Care” timed with the 154th Bohol Day.
Planted in students’ respective lots during simultaneous barangay activities following the launching program last Tuesday, the “plant a fruit tree project” is another of Salinas’ Administration’s pet projects.
The launching was covered by the Municipal Ordinance Number 2, series of 2008 which mandated that all graduating students should present at least five surviving fruit bearing trees before graduation, said Mayor Roberto Salinas.
“Plant and Care” jibes with the town vision of creating a green haven for development and progress, Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Rey Lacea said. It is also in stride with keeping premium on environment and conservation.
As stipulated in the ordinance, prior to graduation, students from the town’s 3 high schools and elementary would seek a certification from the 22 barangay chairmen on agriculture that the fruit trees planted were well cared of and really surviving.
Without that, a graduating student may find it hard to take the graduation march.
Earlier, Salinas said, planting fruit trees now would stand to be the greatest gift to the next generations.
Catigbian, he said wants to be hailed as Bohol’s fruit basket in the next 7-10 years.
Planted that day were 1829 mango, 768 lanzones, 833 jack fruits, 245 star apples,301 chicos, 152 rambutan, 82 avocado, 8 santol, 17 marangs, 93 guyabano and 27 pomelo seedlings, the mayor said based upon the reports coming to his office later that day.
Aside from the environmental premium of planting fruit trees, it can also be a huge investment for the people who have since aspired for better life by producing fruits of commercially quantity and quality, the mayor said in an earlier interview. (rachiu/PIA)