BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Planting trees is only the beginning because for the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), ensuring that they survive and thrive is just as important as putting seedlings into the ground.
Through its Urban Forestry Management Division, CEPMO continues to strengthen the city government’s greening program by producing thousands of seedlings annually while encouraging residents and partner organizations to take an active role in caring for the Summer Capital’s trees.
Floro C. Bastian, Forester III of the Urban Forestry Management Division, said the office operates nurseries in Busol and the Botanical Garden, producing around 20,000 seedlings every year to support the city’s greening initiatives.
Of these, about half are Benguet pine seedlings, reflecting the city’s commitment to preserving its identity as the City of Pines, while the remaining seedlings consist of fruit-bearing and ornamental tree species.
Each year, the city aims to plant around 10,000 seedlings, with schools, private companies, and various organizations regularly partnering with CEPMO through tree-planting activities.
However, Bastian emphasized that successful greening goes beyond planting trees.
“Very important ang tree care because we are called the City of Pines, kailangan i-maintain. Kailangan ma-incorporate ang tree planting sa lahat ng programs natin,” he stressed.
Bastian said tree care involves returning to planting sites to conduct weeding, brushing, and regular maintenance, giving seedlings a better chance to grow. This is especially important for Benguet pine trees, which are sensitive and require clean surroundings to survive.
The office also faces the challenge of limited planting sites due to years of continuous tree planting. To address this, CEPMO distributes free seedlings to residents, encouraging them to plant trees within their own properties.
“Kahit isang pine tree sa bahay, pwedeng-pwede na,” he said.
He added that the office has also been promoting pine bonsai cultivation to address the misconception that pine trees are unsafe to plant near homes. Training on pine bonsai cultivation has likewise been conducted to encourage more residents to grow the city’s iconic tree species even in limited spaces.
Bastian also highlighted the Saleng Festival, celebrated from June to September, which coincides with the city’s designated tree-planting months under a local ordinance.
During this period, CEPMO intensified its greening initiatives by conducting tree-planting activities with government agencies, schools, private organizations, and community volunteers.
The city’s greening efforts have also expanded to private properties, including Mirador Eco Park, Baguio Country Club, Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary, and Maryhurst Seminary toward Lucnab, through the support and leadership of Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
To ensure the success of every planting activity, CEPMO conducts monitoring approximately three months after planting. Dead seedlings are replaced to improve the survival rate of newly established trees.
Bastian said Benguet pine trees currently have an average survival rate of about 65%, underscoring the importance of consistent maintenance after planting.
As Baguio continues to celebrate the Saleng Festival and pursue its greening initiatives, the city hopes more residents will recognize that preserving its identity as the City of Pines begins not only with planting trees, but with caring for them long after they have taken root. – Ja-el Ahochay, PIO Baguio Intern/gabykeith
