More than a thousand city and municipal mayors, government officials, employees and the residents of Davao Oriental province joined the simultaneous historic lighting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) landmarks in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The lighting led by Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang took place at Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in San Isidro town. The province is among the 50 chosen ASEAN historical sites in the country. The other site is Davao City which is led by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio at the Osmena Park.
Mt Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has been inscribed as the Philippine’s sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and declared as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2016,
Gov. Dayanghirang said that being chosen as one of the ASEAN historical sites is an opportunity to present Mt. Hamiguitan to a larger stage as a world heritage mountain range.
He said this should also serve as a reminder to the local residents of the mountain’s universal value. He said it is fitting that Mt. Hamiguitan is the site of lighting event to mark the 50th founding of ASEAN.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR XI) Assistant Regional Director for Forestry Marcia Isip said Mt. Hamiguitan has brought so much pride to the country.
The lighting event, Isip said, brings Mt. Hamiguitan into the environmental arena and signals the unending goal to sustain and preserve biodiversity.
During the program, Gov. Dayanghirang, San Isidro town Mayor Justina Yu, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Alex Roldan, and local officials led the raising of the flags of the ASEAN member nations and the ceremonial lighting of a six-foot lantern.
The event carries the ASEAN theme: “Under One Light, We Are One ASEAN”. The local government units have been encouraged to take part in once-in-a-lifetime milestone as an opportunity to showcase what Filipinos can offer best, through unleashing bright spots in entertainment, tourism and economic industry, talent and culture.
The nationwide event is spearheaded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) , the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council, and participating government agencies. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
