MANILA, Philippines — A balete in Pasig City estimated to be at least 70 years old was declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a heritage tree, the city government said on Wednesday.
According to the Pasig City Public Information Office (PIO), the local government and the DENR held a declaration ceremony on July 1 for the tree at the Maybunga Rainforest Park.
“May this heritage tree and its marker serve as a reminder to Pasig residents that we should protect nature and our history,” Pasig City Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto said, speaking in Filipino.
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Pasig City now has four heritage trees – the first two are in Rizal High School, which are acacias, while the third, which is also an acacia, is at the Pasig Catholic Cemetery.
The three trees are estimated to be at least 100 years old, Pasig PIO added.
Under the DENR’s program, healthy trees in Metro Manila with at least a one-meter diameter, are at least 50 years old, and have aesthetic, historical, or cultural significance can be nominated as heritage trees.