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The Regional
launching of the “Trees For Life” Project in Bicol was made in
the early morning of 17 August 2007, a Friday, at the Mayon
Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Barangay Lidong, Sto. Domingo,
Albay.
Some 40 government and
non-government agencies participated, namely: the regional
offices of the Philippine National Police; Philippine Navy;
Philippine Army; Department of Trade and Industry; Land
Transportation Office Department of Budget and Management; Lands
Management Services, Research Services, Forest Services, the
Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Management Services, Mines
and Geosciences Bureau, and the Environmental Management Bureau
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Office
of Civil Defense; Civil Service Commission; Department of
Agrarian Reform; Technical Education and Skill Development
Authority; Department of Social Welfare and Development;
Department of Education; Department of Public Works and
Highways; Department of the Interior and Local Government;
Telecommunications Office; Department of Science and Technology;
Philippine Information Agency; National Economic and Development
Authority; TOG; Pacific Cordage; Philippine Geothermal
Incorporated; the Local Government Units of Sto. Domingo,
Legazpi City, Malilipot and Barangay Council of Lidong; Sto.
Domingo National High School; San Fernando High School;
Mariner’s Polytechnic College; DZGB-AM; San Jose College; SFFI
and CCDI.
It was spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources in Bicol (DENR-V) led by DENR Undersecretary (USEC)
for Policy and planning Demetrio L. Ignacio and DENR-V Regional
Executive Director Reynulfo A. Juan.
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The participants planted a
total of 7,086 seedlings of Narra, Mahogany, and “Tuba-Tuba”
species. MGB-V personnel alone planted some 144 seedlings.
The launching at the MVNP is
one of the 4 planned thematic planting areas in the Bicol
Region, namely: 1) protected areas, critical watershed and open
lands; 2) mangrove and coastal areas; 3) agro-forestry and fruit
trees; and 4) urban parks, green campuses, camps and
subdivisions. The MVNP belongs to classification number 1–a
protected areas, critical watershed and open lands.
The regional launching was
followed by a similar “Trees for Life” provincial launchings at
Mt. Isarog Natural Park, Panicuason, Naga City; Tugbo Watershed
in Tugbo, Mobo, Masbate; Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve,
Duguito, Virac, Catanduanes; Macabog, Sorsogon City; and the
Abasig-Matogdon – Mananap Natural Biotec Area in Labo, Camarines
Norte.
The regional tree planting for
the remaining 3 thematic planting areas were held at Prieto
Diaz, Sorsogon (mangrove and coastal areas); at La Victoria,
Bula, Camarines Sur (agro-forestry and fruit trees) and in
Talobatib, Labo, Camarines Norte (urban parks,…), respectively
on September, October and November last year. Each launching was
followed by a similar provincial launching.
Bicolwide, it is estimated that
a total of 2.64 million seedlings were planted during the July –
November period by some 19,000 or more participants from LGUs,
Academe, religious and civic organizations, people’s
organizations and other government agencies, some of which have
forged an agreement with the DENR-V for the maintenance and
protection of the planted trees for a period of 3 years.
Nationwide, it is estimated
that some 10 million tree seedlings were planted in some 13,000
hectares within the country’s protected and watershed areas
alone. The “Trees for life” was initiated by former DENR
Secretary now Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes where some 20
million tree seedlings were planted from July to December last
year.
The “Trees for life” is part of
the Green Philippines Program which aims to increase the forest
cover in the country to arrest the growing global warming.
(posted 10-15-07) |
