Siquijor tree planting activity highlights CSC anniversary
by Rizalie A. Calibo
Siquijor (10 October) -- The Siquijor Council of Administrative and Personnel Officers recently embarked on a tree planting activity to culminate the province's month-long celebration of the Philippine Civil Service 107th Anniversary.
The celebration was officially opened on September 1 with simultaneous flag ceremonies in all government agencies and the reading of CSC Chair Karina David's message to all public servants by each agency's Human Resource Management Officers (HRMO) which calls on all public servants to continuously face the challenge of public service and work for the betterment of governance on all levels.
"As we look back at the 107 years that passed, we, members of the civil service are faced with a challnge to be better than what we are now, and to give more than what we have given in the past," she said.
Some 100 Mahogany trees were planted in the roadsides and some idle parts of Barangay Logucan in Maria, Siquijor. Municipal Mayor Vicky Padayhag and his officials joined the SICAPO in the planting of trees.
Done in cooperation with the local government unit of Maria and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office(PENRO) here, the activity is part of the Green Philippines campaign of the Arroyo Administration.
The President, in one of her statements, underscored her administration's thrust that economic growth must be achieved alongside the preservation and protection of the environment for the Philippines to be a modern nation.
The Chief Executive said that while other developing and developed nations believe that the environment must be sacrificed for economic development, the Arroyo administration "believes otherwise."
"We deeply believe that we must both sustain our natural environment and grow our economy at the same time. We are developing and promoting our Green Philippines Agenda which puts an emphasis on a sustainable economic model that brings economic opportunity and a concern for our environment," the President said.
President Arroyo also assured environmentalists that the Philippines will not tolerate any unregulated exploitation of the country's natural resources as several international mining firms had expressed strong interest to invest in the country's mining industry.
While the Philippine economy benefits from the significant expansion of the mining sector, the President stressed that the national government will make sure that mining companies will continue to work closely with the civil society organizations and local government executives to make them comply with the rules and regulations for the protection of the environment. (PIA) [top]
