SOME 18,000 students from Manila’s public high schools yesterday joined Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno in a tree planting activity at the Smokey Mountain.

Lim said the tree planting kicked off the city’s renewed campaign to clean and green the surroundings and create awareness for everyone to care for the environment.

Others who attended the activity were first district Rep. Atong Asilo, Councilor Nino dela Cruz and city officials headed by chief of staff and media bureau chief Ric de Guzman, city administrator Jay Marzan, Moreno’s executive assistant Ferdie Sandoval and Manila Police District deputy director Senior Supt. Alex Gutierrez.

Lim praised the students for volunteering in the tree-planting activity, saying they should spend their vacation in activities that are fruitful.                                                                                                   

“Caring about our environment should not end with the planting of trees.  All of you were born here, raised here and educated here in Manila and I’m sure many of you will spend the rest of your lives here kaya dapat ay magkaroon kayo ng involvement sa ating programa ng paglilinis at pagtatanim ng mga puno,” he told the students.

Both Lim and Moreno grew up in Tondo.

“We need everybody’s help in safeguarding our environment and each of us can start by properly disposing of our garbage,” Lim said.

Students from the Juan Nolasco, T. Paez, Perfecto and Villegas High Schools spearheaded the tree planting. They planted seedlings provided by the city government at the Smokey Mountain.

Tree-planting was also held in other areas in the city with graduates of the city’s public high schools.