In celebration of the International Day of the Forests with the theme, “Forest and Health” that aims to raise awareness on the importance of forest restoration and valuable contribution of all types of forests in terms of its benefits to human being, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region I led by Regional Executive Director thru Conservation and Development Division with PENRO La Union carried out activities at Agoo-Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape, San Nicolas, Agoo, La Union last March 28, 2023.

To highlight the vitality on how forests sustain all aspects of our health, the whole day celebration started with a clean-up drive along the 2011-2012 National Greening Program Plantation within the protected area (PA). It was actively participated by the foresters, agro-foresters, and barangay constituents where they collected numerous wastes left by visitors of the PA.

Later that day, a quiz dubbed as Forestry Olympics was then conducted where foresters/agro-foresters of the aforementioned Offices were grouped into three (3): Team Pterocarpus (red) headed by For. Alfredo R. Racoma, Jr., Team Albizia (green) directed by For. Frank Vincent Danglose, and Team Shorea (yellow) steered by For. Cirilio Barzuela. The said Olympics was composed of different categories like seed identification, leaf identification, and other questions related to the field of Forestry that gave them the opportunity to not only refresh but also continue to hone their knowledge and practice of their specialization and maintain the professional integrity and ethics in forestry.

As a result, Team Albizia emerged as champion in the Forestry Olympics garnering the highest score where each member received collaterals and cash prize. But the other two teams did not go home empty handed as they also got consolation prizes. (DML-RSCIG)