Malacañang tree named symbol of biodiversity

President Benigno Aquino 3rd proclaimed the balete or dalakit tree (Ficus Concinma) located at the state entrance of Malacanang Palace as a ‘Heritage Tree’ at the launch rites of the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity on Monday.

Aquino said the proclamation of the commemorative marker of the new Heritage Tree is a “fitting symbol of our commitment to the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity.”

“This balete tree, which is more than a hundred years old, has been a mute witness to Philippine history,” the President said.

In his speech delivered at the Rizal conference hall, Aquino cited the Philippines is ranked fifth for having the most number of plant species in the world.

Aquino has launched the National Greening Program aiming to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land across the Philippines from 2011 to 2016.

“This program complements an earlier directive I issued – Executive Order no.23, which calls for a total logging ban in our natural and residual forests and establishes an anti-illegal logging task force to enforce the campaign,” he added.

By Claire Capul