The Dumaguete local government unit held a Training on Modern Techniques of Tree Health Management in an Urban Environment on April 26-28 for employees of departments involved in tree pruning and the care of city parks.
Representatives from the Environment & Natural Resources Office, General Services Office, City Agriculture Office, and the Liga ng mga Barangay attended, including participants from NORECO II, Foundation University, and Silliman University.
Spearheaded by the City Tourism Office in its thrust to rehabilitate the century-old trees along the Rizal Boulevard and at the M.L. Quezon Park, the training was conducted by the Department of Environment & Natural Resources.
Joselito Sumabat of the DENR Region VII Biodiversity, Coastal, Wetlands & Ecotourism Research Center, said their objectives are to coach participants on the application of natural target pruning, improved tree surgery, tree injection and basal application of tree fertilizer, as well as to promote awareness and understanding on the importance of urban tree health management.
Ceferino Amarante Jr. from the local DENR Office gave a brief orientation on existing DENR Policies, Rules and Regulations Governing Urban Trees.
City Tourism Officer Jacqueline Veloso Antonio said the assessment of Dumaguete trees by the DENR started in September 2016. Based on their assessment, many of the century-old trees at the boulevard and the park need proper care and management. She said this training-workshop is just one of the LGU’s efforts to address that need.
Other steps to be taken are the planting of trees to replace dead trees and those uprooted during the recent typhoons.
Antonio said that spotlights and electrical planks attached to the park trees will have to be removed and installed on proper steel poles erected for this purpose.
Trash bins for the City Park are currently being produced, and will be installed soon.
Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo has given the go signal for the rehabilitation, redevelopment, and beautification of the Rizal Boulevard and Quezon Park, which will continue in the next few months. (Dems Demecillo)
