It’s now official! Bataan marks another history

It’s now official!

Bataan marks another history

By Mary Grace P. Santos – 1Bataan

ORION, Bataan – Last Saturday June 25, 2016, Bataan marked another history as the province became the Guinness World Records title holder for most trees planted in one hour by a team of unlimited size in a single location.

Swapnil Dangarikar, Guinness adjudicator, awarded the certification to Provincial Governor Albert “Abet” Garcia after announcing that Bataan was triumphant in beating the 208,751 record of India through planting a total of 223, 390 trees.

Governor Abet said that this is Bataan’s way of sending a strong message to the world that we are aiming for a well rounded growth, that as we strive to become the preferred location for eco-industrial investments in the country, we are also protecting our environment.

In his speech, Adjudicator Dangarikar congratulated the Bataeños saying that the project was wonderfully done.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, tayo ay nagtagumpay upang ipakita sa buong mundo na ang Bataan ay nagkakakaisa sa pangangalaga sa ating kalikasan,” said Engr. Victor Ubaldo, department head of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources, who served as the lead organizing committee of the endeavor.

More than 20,000 Bataeños joined in the historic event. To accommodate the massive influx of people arriving in the site, planting started at 10:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. whereas in a matter of less than an hour, majority of the participants finished the tree planting activity.

Zyr Quim Mejillano, 17, a Iskolar ng Bataan who joined in the program, shared his insights, saying, “First time kong makasama sa isang gawain na hindi lang basta-basta magtatanim kundi may gustong makamit. Masaya ako at hindi ko ito makakalimutan. Kahit  na napakalayo ng nilakad at nakakapagod, andun pa rin yung saya dahil naging parte ako ng makasaysayang pagtatanim. Ito yung experience na hindi dapat pinapalampas dahil ito yung experience na hindi pangsarili lamang, kundi isang pagtulong sa kalikasan na tayo rin ang makikinabang.”

Also, Marissa Reyes, one of the participants said, “Happy kami dahil nakapag-participate kaming mag-asawa sa tree planting. Kahit puyat, pagod at gutom dahil tinanghali na kami ng pag-uwi sa sobrang layo, sulit naman, kinaya pa rin namin kahit oldies na kami.”

Four hundred Bataan PNP officials served as stewards while Reyes Tacandong and Co., a private auditing firm, validated the results.

This massive tree planting activity termed as “Comprehensive Tree Planting Program: 1Bataan Green Legacy” was held at the 200 hectare Community Based Forest Management area of SAMAKALUGEN, Inc. in Brgy. General Lim, Orion, Bataan.

This official attempt was a fitting way of celebrating the Arbor Day and Environment Month which carry the goal of publicizing the solidarity of the people of Bataan in action, stewardship and conservation of the environment and promoting awareness on the importance of planting trees as well as to address the environmental responsibility of all sectors.

With reports from Jonie Capalaran and Ronald Supnad