Governor Lilia G. Pineda plans to develop the full potentials and bring back the glorious days of Mt. Arayat National Park in San Juan Baño as the provincial government appropriated 70 hectares of its area for its agro eco-tourism project.
This was learned from Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) Art Punsalan who together with Board Members Trina Dizon, Cris Garbo, Tars Halili, Nestor Tolentino and Ric Yabut joined the governor and other department heads of the capitol in braving the muddy and slippery three-kilometer trail to the slopes of Mt. Arayat.
The provincial government is set to conduct massive forest tree planting in Mt. Arayat to protect and preserve this famous landmark of the province, which according to Punsalan, is the only mountain in the country situated in the plains.
He added that the program is also in line with President Benigno Aquino III’s greening activity.
Governor Pineda has instructed Punsalan’s office to come up with an indicative map and inventory of various species of forest and fruit-bearing trees planted at the site in coordination with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
Punsalan said that these documents would be used in planning the type and number of forest tree species to be planted in strategic areas of the mountain.
The governor was visibly impressed with the scenic surroundings, natural resources and wonders of Mt. Arayat such as its natural spring which could be developed as source of irrigation water for the upland farmers of San Juan Baño.
The provincial officials also saw the possibility of installing pipes from the spring down to the villages along the slopes of the mountain and providing potable water supply to the residents and source of irrigation water among lowland farmers.
To this, the governor instructed concerned department heads of the provincial government to coordinate and work closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
During the on-site visit, the governor chanced upon some upland farmers walking barefoot and without protective covering in the muddy mountain trail amidst rainy weather.
She, at once, promised to immediately send them raincoats and slippers and at the same time to link them up with a private group who could provide fruit-bearing tree seedlings and marketing assistance for their farm produce.
In a related development, the governor also held an informal interaction and consultation with the farmer-members of Palinlang Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Arayat and addressed their problems and concerns as she committed the provincial government’s support in the construction of an elevated warehouse as a safe storage area for their farm produce.
The province will also look into the possible development of a natural spring in the vicinity as source of mineral water which could provide additional livelihood opportunities for the cooperative members and the construction of a water reservoir to provide irrigation supply during dry season and at the same time prevent perennial flooding during rainy months. (Pampanga PIO)
