The local government is planting trees in what it called “green buffer zones” to mitigate the effect of air pollution caused by vehicles especially on busy roads.

Arthur Pedro, municipal environment and natural resources officer said Tuesday a total of 28 Eugenia plants now line up the 100-meter stretch of the town’s diversion road.

“We are preparing here because we are seeing that this area will soon be widely used especially by truckers going to the vegetable trading areas,” he said.

The diversion road connects part of the Halsema Highway to the Benguet Agripinoy Trading Center, one of the vegetable trading areas here.

Quoting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Pedro said the intersection below the provincial capitol in Kilometer 6, where vehicles from the north and the valley merge, has been identified as the most polluted area.

La Trinidad is one of the municipalities in Benguet that is rapidly getting urbanized, its air quality condition is affected by the increasing number of vehicles.

“On top of the waiting shed where the retaining wall protecting the capitol building was constructed, we planted trees which we hope will help absorb more pollutants. The driveway going up the capital are vertical plant boxes, although small, are all aimed at helping address the pollution in the area,” Pedro said.

Aside from the planting activities, Pedro said through the “Adopt a Tree” project, government offices partner with schools in La Trinidad to plant and care for a tree along the highway. (PNA)