First of some 400 trees planted at KES

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, October 18, 2006
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

View the photogallery for this article.

The first of about 400 seedlings were planted around Koblerville Elementary School Monday morning as part of the Commonwealth-wide celebration of Arbor Day and Soil and Water Conservation Month this month. Arbor Day is an annual event held every third Monday of October.

Speaking in Monday's proclamation signing, CNMI forester Manny Pangelinan said the school would have cooler shades in years to come due to the planting of the seedlings.

One of the trees planted was a daok tree. After 10 years, when it is fully grown, it will be 40 to 50 feet tall and will have a canopy size of 30 to 40 feet.

Pangelinan said his agency would visit all schools in the CNMI to plant more trees in the future. The project is under the U.S. Force Service federal grant.

Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez and his wife Margaret led the proclamation singing and tree planting at the elementary school. He symbolically planted the first seedling.

Some 40 KES students welcomed Villagomez and other government officials.

Villagomez expressed his gratitude to the students for holding the proclamation at the Koblerville school.

“But I challenge you to continue to make your school and community more beautiful by planting trees and cleaning up,” he said, adding that the students should also be aware of soil erosion prevention and chemical run-off into CNMI waters.

Beautify CNMI! officer Rep. Cinta Kaipat planted the second seedling. In all, a total of 12 trees were planted at KES.

KES STUCCO president Lyannette Sablan read part of the proclamation letter before the signing of the proclamation. NMC-CREES' Isidoro Cabrera and Public School System official Doreen Tudela also provided brief remarks during the event.

The event paved way for the awarding of prizes for the recently concluded Arbor Day and Soil and Water Conservation Month Poster Making Contest.

Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School 6th grader Michael Garon bagged the first prize, while schoolmate and brother Lance Garon, who is in 4th grade, won third prize. Oleai Elementary School's BingJane Serrano bagged the second prize plum. All winners received cash and seedlings as prizes.

Department of Lands and Natural Resources Tinian officer Joe Lizama, Rota resident department head Herman Apatang, Commonwealth Ports Authority's Clyde Norita, SWCD's Monette Sablan, Division of Environmental Quality officers Reina Camacho and Tina Sablan, and other government officers witnessed the proclamation signing. Beautify CNMI! officer Angelo Villagomez hosted the event.