PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 14, 2012

Ilocos Region meets 'Greening' targets

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Jan. 14 (PIA) –- More than two million forest and fruit bearing trees were already planted last year in the 5,000 hectares of targeted forest lands in the Ilocos Region in line with the President’s National Greening Program.

There are 1.7 million forest trees and 750,000 fruit-bearing trees like mango, guayabano, atis, cashew, jackfruit, macopa, mabolo, avocado, rambutan, and nangka among others that were already planted in the targeted areas.

The tree planting activity is in response to the call of President Aquino to plant 1 billion trees until 2016 and eventually address the country’s problem on poverty alleviation, food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and environmental protection.

The local government units from the barangay up to the provincial level, the people’s organizations in the uplands, government employees of various government agencies, NGOs, media groups, youth sector, religious sector, the academe, elementary schools, secondary and tertiary level, business sector, civic organizations, military group, health/ medical groups joined the tree planting activity.

Meanwhile, a series of trainings on seedling production, care and maintenance, and nursery establishment were conducted in order to equip participants on the proper techniques in raising quality seedlings for tree planting needs of NGP. The trainings were made possible through the Ecosystems Research and Development Service (ERDS).

The maintenance and protection was also conducted by people’s organizations to ensure the growth of the seedlings planted. Maintenance activities include replanting and construction of fire breaks/lanes in the area.

Executive Order No. 26 mandates all concerned agencies to also raise seedlings and sustain tree plantations. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources provided seedling materials for tree planting in the upland/forest areas. High quality seedlings were made possible through the bidding process and the scrutiny of the ERD group.

This year’s tree planting program also included bamboo production for the bamboo industry as well as to support the program of the Department of Education for school desks and chairs for the pupils. (ANL/EMR-PIA 1 La Union with report from DENR)