PMSEA, CEPMO TRIM NORFOLK TREE

Photo credits by PIO – Baguio City

The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) and the City Environment and Parks management Office (CEPMO) recently conducted the trimming of the Norfolk tree at the foot of Session Road as part of the activities lined up for the celebration of the 70th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference held in the city.

In 2009, the PMSEA adopted the Norfolk tree as part of its corporate social responsibility in the city to help its preservation and protection through the annual conduct of rejuvenation activities in coordination with the local government through the CEPMO.

PMSEA president and ASEAN Eng. Luis R. Sarmiento assured the city government that it will continue to perform its responsibility in maintaining the famous Norfolk trees at the foot of Session Road having adopted these trees that is one of the attractions within the central business district area.

The 67-year old Norfolk tree is being trimmed, power washed and undergoing various maintenance activities annually to ensure its rejuvenation with the support of the PMSEA.

One of the activities lined up by the PMSEA in the annual conduct of the Mine Safety and Environment Conference is the regular trimming and power wash of the Norfolk trees in partnership with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO).

Previously, the old Norfolk tree served as the city’s Christmas tree every December but the city government eventually abandoned the use of this as a Christmas tree because of its age as it could no longer handle heavy load as per evaluation and assessment by foresters that conducted an evaluation of its state.

To date, the Norfolk trees now serve as a major attraction right at the heart of the city and are regularly trimmed and maintained by the PMSEA with the support and facilitation of the CEPMO.

“Our association will try to look into other environment-related activities in the city and neighboring communities that we could support in the coming years considering that Baguio remains to be the home of the PMSEA,” Sarmiento stressed.

He expressed the group’s support to the sustainable implementation of environmental preservation and protection projects by concerned government agencies and the local government because it is part of their advocacy on responsible mining to guarantee the realization of sustainable development in mining communities.

The PMSEA official added that Baguio is the home of the annual activities of the group because of the history of mining that played a vital role in the overall growth and development of the city over the past several decades. By Dexter A. See