25/06/2003

In sitio Pintong Bocaue, San Mateo, Rizal, some 1,500 environment officials and personnel planted some 25,000 treeds in celeration of Arbor Day.

And in Quezon City, Secretary Elisea Gozun of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) planted indigeous trees at the UP Mini-Forest Park in Diliman.

"The battle to save Mother Nature from man's destructive tendencies can be won," said Senator Legarda, who founded Luntiang Pilipinas in 1998 and has since led in planting over a million trees all over the country. "This is a difficult task, Quixotic even, but we will prevail."

Legarda said that many Filipinos already feel helpless in saving the environment for their children and their children's children, citing a survey conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that 67 percent of all Metro Manilans feel this way.

She also noted a United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) study that the Philippines tops the list of countries facing the most serious biodiversity problems. The UNEP found out that of the world's top 10 coral reef system hotspots, those in the Philippines face the greatest danger from human activities.

However, Legarda said, the campaign to save the environment can still be won and the Philippines has enough environmental laws to stem the tide of the destruction of its forests, water systems, and other valuable resources.

"The laws, when properly and responsibly implemented, are good examples of the essence of governance and sustainable development," the lady solon pointed out.

"The failure to fully and effectively implement these laws, therefore, may be attributed to the lack of responsible governance and the insufficient coordination among stakeholders, which are us, the people."

Tree-growing in urban areas is the most practical and responsive step to fight pollution, Legarda said, adding that Luntiang Pilipinas has developed hundreds of forest parks with the active participation of government, nongovernmental organizations, private corporations, and international partners.

She urged those who attended the tree-planting event to join the ranks of the Green Crusaders, a worldwide advocacy network committed to promoting environmental awareness. (OLL)

DENR

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led yesterday a massive tree planting activity at sitio Pintong Bocaue in San Mateo, Rizal - the focal point of the first ever Arbon Day celebration in the country.

Some 1,500 environment officials and personnel, representatives from the youth sector and other multi-sectoral groups gathered at a 16-hectare area in the Rizal town to plant around 25,000 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees.

In Quezon City, Environment Secretary Elisea G. Gozun, together with University of the Philippine (UP) President Francisco Nemenzo and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez highlighted Arbor Day celebration by planting assorted species of indigenous trees at the UP Mini-Forest Park in Diliman.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently declared June 25 of every year as Philippine Arbor Day, by way of Presidential Proclamation No. 396, to be observed nationwide by planting trees and ornamental plants through appropriate ceremonies.

Secretary Gozun said the nationwide tree-planting activity was of great help to achieve the One Million Trees for 2003 program of the government in a bid to revitalize and further improve the country's watershed areas.

"The activity highlighted the essential role of trees in nurturing the environment and human life. It also served as breakthrough not only in terms of revitalizing but of further improving our country's watershed areas," Gozun said.

Gozun stressed that the concern for our watersheds should be given paramount importance taking into accent that they serve as vital surces of water supply for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes.

"It would be very essential that we help in preserving its forest cover to ensure the continuous, adequate and good quality of water supply," she added.

Gozun said the DENR is willing to provide technical assistance and seedlings for those who want to plant trees throughout the year.

The DENR also encouraged schools to maintain the planting sites to sustain re-greening efforts of the government.

Simultaneous tree-planting activities were also conducted all over the country, which were led by DENR regional offices. Strategic areas were assigned for the tree-planting activity such as mini-forests, tree and national parks, forest and mangrove areas, roadsides, among others.

Started on April 10, 1872, by J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, Arbor Day was first observed by agricultural Organizations to encourage the planting or shade and forest trees, shrubs, and vines along highways, homes and public property. (Edmer F. Panesa)

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