Marcos: Preserve environment

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. led the national simultaneous bamboo and tree planting event in San Mateo, Rizal to mark his 65th birthday on Tuesday. PHOTO BY JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Bulletin

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on the public to unite in protecting and preserving the environment to "make sure that our plans for the country's economy will succeed."

In his speech, the President described the tree-planting activities as "simple yet impactful undertaking[s]" to protect the environment.

"The challenges we hurdled in recent years highlighted the fact that we have one Earth. We must spare no effort to ensure that it survives in the years to come," Marcos said.

"During my address [on the] State of the Nation, I made it clear: 'Preserving the environment is nothing less than preserving life.' And therefore, it can only be one of our important priorities if we wish to make sure that our plans for the country's economy will succeed," he added.

Marcos thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture, for the collaboration that made the events in San Mateo and elsewhere possible.

"We have to do this as a concrete step that we take so that nature is cared for because it desperately needs that care and it desperately needs that attention," he said.

The President said this initiative "will greatly help in raising awareness on environmental welfare and protection."

He also thanked the nongovernment organizations present during the activity.

"Your presence in the selected areas across the country shows your commitment to prioritize Mother Earth and encourage everyone to unite for her benefit," he said. "Indeed, this initiative will contribute to the DENR's National Greening Program, the country's most ambitious reforestation program yet."

With the goal of reducing poverty, Marcos said, ensuring food security, environmental stability, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating climate change and adapting to climate change, more than two million hectares of reforestation sites were established from 2011 to 2021.

"An additional 46,265 hectares are expected to be developed in 2022. The DENR targets 11,631 hectares of enhanced National Greening Program sites in 2023," the President said. "And so, the seedlings that we will plant today will be significant in realizing this goal. This program will generate jobs, will generate opportunities and will generate livelihood for our countrymen."

The Chief Executive said more than the economic benefit of this activity, "we are essentially and primarily investing in ensuring that our planet remains a safe space."

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"Never mind for us, but we are only custodians of this earth. But more so that we can say to the children, the Filipinos that follow us, that we have taken good care of that, which they will inherit," Marcos added.

"Trees and plants in general are vital to human existence. I thus wish that as we appreciate the impact of this endeavor, we also see it for the symbolic gesture that it is. It is a reminder for us to see past our personal interest and have the future in sight," he said.

Tuesday's kick-off ceremony of the "Buhayin ang Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan" is a government program that aims to plant 8,000 seedlings and bamboo planting stocks in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

Compos mentis

The tree-planting sites are San Mateo in Rizal; Majayjay, Laguna; Trece Martires City, Cavite; Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, and Dolores, Quezon.

200 endemic trees planted in DdO's celebration of “Arbor Day”

Davao de Oro Province--- The 25th of June marks the celebration of the “Arbor Day”, a special day dedicated to tree planting, mitigating the effects of climate change, pollution and calamities due to the dwindling number of trees in terrestrial planes.

With this, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro spearheaded by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in partnership with DENR planted more or less 200 seedling of endemic species of trees such as Molave, Almon, Bagtikan, Bayug and Dau at one of the sites of “Oplan Liwanag” center in barangay Libasan, Nabunturan Davao de Oro.

Together with the employees of PLGU-Davao de Oro, Municipal-LGU employees, partners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Libasan Cooperative participated in the activity.

“Dili lang kutob sa pagpananom ug kahoy ang atuang ginahimo, kundili atua pod kining alimahan, pinaka-main nga purpose niini mao ang pag hatag ug importance sa atung environment kay ang kinaiyahan kung walay kahoy maglisod pod kitang mga katawhan.” said Eugene Alaba, PENRO-DDO Department Head.

The “Oplan Liwanag” center was chosen as the site planted with the endemic trees to ensure its growth and survival providing comfort for our brothers and sisters undergoing healing for a life anew.

(Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Comval conducts Bulawanong Kinaiyahan Tree (Palm) Planting

Compostela Valley Province--- As early as 6 o’clock in the morning a total of two thousand (2,000) palm trees were planted along Daang Maharlika National Highway of Barangay Magsaysay to Barangay San Roque of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province during the conduct of the “Bulawanong Kinaiyahan Tree Planting” activity on March 6, 2019.

The activity is in line with the celebration of “12^th Bulawan Festival and 21^st Founding Anniversary” of Compostela Valley Province on March 8, 2019 with the theme: “The Gold One. Ang Bulawan sa Tanan.”

The activity was spearheaded by the provincial government of Compostela Valley under Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

The participants of the tree planting activity were the provincial officials lead by Governor Uy, Municipal Government of Nabunturan under Mayor Chelita Amatong, National Offices such us the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Education (DepEd), Bauru of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Barangay Local Government of Barangay Magsaysay, Barangay Poblacion and Barangay San Roque of Nabunturan.

Also joining the tree planting activity were the League of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Employees of the provincial Government of Comval, and the private partners namely; ALDEVINCO, APEX Mining Company, ARMOR, KMC, Sumifru, King Coop, Eagle AGPET, AMCI and other public and private sectors.

This year’s festivity highlights the private-public partnership with big and reputable companies as well as officials supporting the event:  Co-presenters  Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Senior Board Member Arturo T. Uy, Congressman Maricar S. Zamora and Vice-Governor Manuel Zamora, Congressman Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga, Apex Mining Company Inc., Torre Lorenzo Development Corp, MARINO Party List, HUGPONG NG PAGBABAGO, Dumper Party List and Beautederm. For Diamond Sponsorship: Krishael’s Events and Concept while for Gold Sponsorship, SUMIFRU Philippines, Phoenix Fuels Inc., Cong. Antonio Floirendo, Jr. and HEXAT Mining Co., Inc. (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

As early as 6 o’clock in the morning a total of two thousand (2,000) palm trees were planted along Daang Maharlika National Highway of Barangay Magsaysay to Barangay San Roque of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province during the conduct of the “Bulawanong Kinaiyahan Tree Planting” activity on March 6, 2019. (Photo from FB acct of Comval DepEd SDS Rey Solitario)