BAGUIO CITY – The local government and the Camp John hay Employees Association (CJHEA) entered into a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of urban tree planting, landscaping and maintenance within a portion of Forbes Park.
The agreement was signed by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, City Environment and Parks Management Officer Cordelia C. Lacsamana and CJHEA president Dolph G. Lachica and witnessed by Beatriz Y. Gajete, chief, forest and watershed management division of CEPMO; Evelyn R. Borgona, CJHEA vice president; Watler U. Aguirre, chief, greening section of the CEPMO; and Cristina J. dela Cruz, CJHEA secretary.
Under the agreement, the CJHEA will adopt a 500-square meter portion of the Forbes Park for the implementation of its urban tree planting, landscaping and maintenance for a 5-year period from August 1, 2018 to August 1, 2023 renewable for another 5 years upon mutual agreement of both parties.
The area that will be adopted by the group is bounded in the north by a creek, on the east by South Drive road, on the south by South Drive road and west by the Girl Scots of the Philippines.
The local government, through the CEPMO, shall identify, inspect and delineate the area to be adopted, provide technical assistance specifically on tending tress and its protection; monitor and evaluate the activities conducted at the adopted site with representatives from the adopter; assist the adopter in the protection of the adopted site from encroachment, vandalism and other destructive activities in the area; coordinate with the adopter whenever there is a new silvi-cultural practices to be introduced; but it also reserves the right to terminate the contract and award the same to interested adopters without prejudice to the former adopter 45 days after the expiration of the contract as well as provide planting materials that are suitable to the planting site.
On the other hand, the CJHEA shall provide counterpart resources intended for labor, materials and other contributions for the implementation of the project; undertake beautification and reforestation or regreening activities at the adopted site in consonance with the urban tree management plan and the work program; maintain and protect the existing vegetation as well as the planted seedlings at the adopted area including its protection from pasturing of animals, include ring weeding, brushing, cultivation and other silvi-cultural practices; coordinate planting of new varieties of species not stipulated in the CEPMO for evaluation and approval; coordinate with the local government through CEPMO for needed policy support to carry out all related activities and document all management activities for policy-making and advocacy purposes.
The local government is the primary government agency having jurisdiction and authority, as well as the responsibility of developing, protecting and conserving all city parks, plazas, green belts, road-right-of-ways, heritage parks, including watersheds and forest reservations within the city while the CJHEA is a non-government group interested to actively participate in the implementation of regreening projects geared towards improving the city’s state of environment.
By Dexter A. See