City saves centuries-old acacia trees from dehydration and death

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Perforated PVC pipes were installed by the Urban Forestry Management and Development (UFMD) program of the city’s Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) around the acacia trees along the famous Rizal Boulevard to prevent these from death due to dehydration and suffocation.

Arestio Encabo, UFMD coordinator, said the idea of installing PVC pipes beside the centuries-old trees came from a concerned citizen, a certain Florante Vicuña, who wrote to Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria to give alert on the dying trees.

Vicuña suggested a very innovative idea of driving one-meter long PVC pipes by the sides around the trees, an idea that convinced the mayor.

Sagarbarria immediately called the attention of Encabo to observe more the situation of the trees along the boulevard. The team of Encabo in turn prepared the program of work for the installation of the perforated PVC pipes.

The program of works, as approved by the mayor, cost more than P25,000, according to Encabo, who added that the project started by setting up more 70 pipes around the trees, and he hoped that it would be finished before December ends.

The city government said the preservation of the centuries-old trees along Rizal boulevard was the remaining link to the city’s historic past. They survived the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupations of the city, according to city information officer Steve Gabriel. – (FREEMAN)