Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista, together with other local officials here on Monday, planted the one millionth tree seedling as the highlight of the city’s 26th charter anniversary from Feb. 7-12.

The city government’s million tree campaign, dubbed Canopy ’25 under the Luntian Kidapawan Program, aims to plant 2.5 million tree seedlings from 2022 to 2025.

“What we are doing today is for the benefit of our people,” Evangelista said in his message during the culmination ceremony, adding that the program intends to mitigate the impact of the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.

The seedlings were planted in Mt. Apo protected forests, watersheds, riparian zones, government properties, and idle private lands.

Evangelista said the seedlings included endemic species, perennial crops (fruit trees, coffee, cacao), and bamboo.

“Twenty-six years from now, the people of Kidapawan will look back and ask what these leaders have done for their people,” the mayor said.

The Kidapawan cityhood was made possible under Republic Act 8500 or the “Act converting the Municipality of Kidapawan in the Province of Cotabato into a component city to be known as the City of Kidapawan.” (PNA)