The planting of trees has always been given importance by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh).
This was the statement of Gov. Edgar M. Chatto as he led the PGBh in the tree planting activity in celebration of Arbor Day last Friday at the Bayongan Dam Site, Barangay  Bayongan, San Miguel town.
Gov. Chatto said the planting of trees is not only during the Arbor Day but this is already a habit of the Boholanos that aims to make the province of Bohol green and this must be done because the big dams are located here.
Trees are important to sustain the watershed areas, he said.
Bohol is different compared to other provinces because this is an island province which has several sources of surface water.
Chatto stressed that the next war will not be on oil but due to the scarcity of water supply.
The governor was elated that the Bohol Small Scale Mining Association composed of 30 members led by its president Eduardo Labunog, representatives from every department of the capitol, Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Miguel and other sectors participated in the tree planting activity, saying that even a small group can signify a big voice.
He urged the participants to spread words that environment is everybody’s business. Planting a tree is planting also for a better future, Chatto added.
Sammuel V. Racho, OIC-BEMO bared that the celebration of Arbor Day is on June 25th of every year based on Presidential Proclamation 643 signed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 9, 2004. But to ensure the strong participation among government employees, the tree planting activity was held last June 24, 2016.
Racho said we can sustain the operations of the dams and preserve our environment if we plant trees.
In behalf of San Miguel Mayor Claudio Bonior, Municipal Agriculturist Felix Lucip in his message said the town sustains its program on environment by planting trees.
In fact, the LGU created the Municipal Environment Natural Resources Office to strengthen its program not only in planting but also in caring for the planted trees.
In the preliminary program, Brgy. Kag. Edgar Avenido in lieu of Brgy Captain Nunila M. Pinat, now mayor-elect of San Miguel town who was in Manila at the time welcomed participants to the activity. (Atoy Cosap)