Puerto Princesa celebrates Feast of the Forest

It’s Pista Y Ang Kagueban (Feast of the Forest) here on June 27, and the city government is now busy preparing for the annual tree planting celebration at the Irawan Watershed in Barangay Inagawan.

Puerto Princesa

For 19 years now, the Pista has been successfully bringing thousands upon thousands of people to the mountains of Irawan to plant trees to prevent its soils from eroding. Irawan is a watershed area that serves as major source potable water of the city.

Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and the city government expect more than 50,000 people to participate in this year’s Pista to plant more than a hundred thousand fast growing and fruit bearing trees on a 15-hectare site that’s now being readied by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

As a customary, free rides on military trucks, buses, jeepneys and other modes of transportation will begin to ferry residents and revelers to the site as early as 5 a.m. from the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum.

Talented novelty artists Wency Cornejo, Cookie Chua, Noel Cabangon, Gary Granada and the Jerks band have been invited to perform in a rock forest concert on the day of the tree planting feast.

On the eve of June 26, the city will have them at the coliseum for a concert to reminisce on the beginnings of the Pista through songs.

“For 19 years, we have been celebrating the Pista with the residents of Puerto Princesa and since then, many visitors and guests have joined us. The concert the night before will allow those who do not know the history of the feast of the forest to understand why we are always planting trees every year,” Hagedorn said.

According to records of the City ENRO, 19 years have already brought to life 1.97 million trees in Inagawan and other sites where the feast was held. It is expected to increase to 2 million this year.

To promote the rehabilitation and conservation of Puerto Princesa’s forests and marine ecology, the city initiated Bantay Puerto or Puerto Princesa Watch, composed mainly of civilian volunteers and employees, supported by police personnel handpicked for their integrity.

One of the major components of Bantay Puerto is Bantay Gubat or Forest Watch, which is tasked with the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of the city’s forest areas.

To rehabilitate denuded areas of the city’s forestlands, the program embarked on a massive reforestation scheme. Dubbed as “Pista Y ang Kageban” or Feast of the Forest, it has annually mobilized 30,000-50,000 people from all walks of life and greatly succeeded not only in terms of the number of trees actually planted, but also in inculcating the proper attitude among the Puerto Princesans toward tree planting and conservation.

“Puerto Princesa has gone a long way from a city whose economic and social future was threatened by an almost irreversible damage to its natural environment. Despite the fact that we’re still facing challenges, in environment protection, Puerto Princesa is a model of sustainable development,” Hagedorn added.