Philippines: Government asks for private sector’s help in tree planting

Mike Crismundo, Manila Bulletin, 5 Oct 13;

PROSPERIDAD, AGUSAN DEL SUR — To save and protect the watershed areas in Northeastern Mindanao, the government is seeking partnership with private sectors for its 100,000 hectares tree planting project in various areas of the region.

With its aim to implement government programs on global warming and climate change, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the National Greening Program (NGP) has asked for the assistance of local government units, private organizations, and firms.

DENR Undersecretary Jose N. Ferrer, Jr. made this appeal to various private organization during the recent two-day 2nd Caraga Mining Community Symposium in Surigao City, where he encouraged the mining sector to help President Aquino’s climate change and greening programs.

“Everyone of us has a key role to play,” he said.

Meanwhile, Region Xlll DENR Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo said the massive tree planting and reforestation program in the watershed, forest lands and mangroves in coastal areas continues,

He said the DENR XIII has already gained the support of some private groups, mining companies, the Community-Based Forest Management sector, schools, and barangay government units.

“The private organizations and other associations can always manifest their full support in the NGP of the government,” Tamayo said during the recent signing of memorandum of partnership between DENR and the Agusan National High School class of 1990 in Butuan City.

He said DENR aims to plant tree seedlings on 100,000 hectares in the region until 2016.

The NGP started in 2011 after President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 26.

The program is a massive forest rehabilitation that seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares nationwide within six years.
Meanwhile, Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward G. Plaza said that they have already started the program in the province.

“Our tree planting activities is a continuing program of the province not only for the support of Pres. Aquino’s NGP but also for the next generation,” Plaza said in an exclusive interview.

Aside from being a reforestation initiative, the NGP is also seen as a climate mitigation strategy as it seeks to enhance the country’s forest stock and to absorb carbon dioxide, one of the causes of global warming.