1,200 seedlings to bloom into ‘Balayong Park’ in Puerto Princesa

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1000527
• Thursday, July 13, 2017 10:38 am

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, July 13 -- On July 29, returning Mayor Lucilo Bayron will get down on his knees to lead the mass planting of 1,200 Palawan cherry blossom tree seedlings to fulfill an all-time aspiration to build a “Balayong Park” that shall be one of the centers of events here.

Balayong (Cassia nodosa) is the popular name of the Palawan cherry blossom tree in Puerto Princesa.

Bayron said Wednesday afternoon during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) oath-taking ceremony that the mass planting of the local cherry blossoms marks the establishment of the said park.

“Please allow me to take this opportunity to announce that on July 29, Saturday, we will have the biggest mass tree planting event of Balayong. We will be planting 1,200 seedlings, and it will begin the establishment of Balayong Park,” he said.

Expected to resemble the illustrious Sakura trees of Japan, the said park is going to be in a five - hectare area adjacent the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex and the Green City Hall.

When the Balayong trees are in full bloom during summer up to June, they display white and soft pink flowers to the delight of people who see them.

The city leadership believes that with a Balayong tree park, tourists will be more attracted to visit Puerto Princesa every year to have fun when the trees are in bloom.

Incidentally, an ordinance that seeks mall owners, building operators, school administrators, and the likes, to plant Balayong trees in open/vacant spaces in their properties within Puerto Princesa is now sitting at the Sangguniang Panlungsod waiting for approval.

Filed by Councilor Modesto Rodriguez Jr., Ordinance 124-2017 proposes the provision of tax incentives for them if they comply.

Under it, Rodriguez cited Executive Order 26 expanded by Executive Order 193, which are about the National Greening Program from 2016-2028.

“To ensure the proper implementation of the directives, all government agencies and institutions, including local government units (LGUs), are mandated to provide full support for the program in terms of developing a greening plan for urban and suburban areas, and mobilizing not only the government sector, but also the private sector, to plant trees,” Rodriguez’ ordinance stated.

The ordinance will be known as the “Urban Green Ordinance” and will provide tax incentives on real property taxes as determined by the City Assessor’s Office (CAO).