Ilonggos plant 21T seedlings in nationwide simultaneous activity
Members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Fraternity join the thousands of Ilonggos
who became part of the historic
tree-planting activity along the country's
national highways dubbed Green
Philippine Highways led by the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources held last Saturday,
August 26, 2006.
A.Chris Fernandez photo
Some 21,000 tree-seedlings covering the 469 kilometer-stretch of major highways in Western Visayas were planted in Friday's launching of the 3,439 kilometer-Green Philippine Highways project of the government.
DENR VI Director Julian Amador hopes to see trees a year from now growing along with ornamental plants in Western Visayas' major highways.
Amador said that the August 25 roadside tree planting activity have shown people's unity against the destroyers of environment.
USEC Manuel Gerochi of the DENR who was here during the opening program of the launching of the Green Philippine Highways (GPH) project, explained that highways are the symbolic link of people from one community to the other. It links the culture of one town to the other, and it is only through linking with each other that we can achieve a sustainable development.
Other government officials in yesterday's program held at the launching of the GPH project in Lapaz, Iloilo City were: DOT VI Director Edwin Trompeta, PNP VI Director Geary Barrias, Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada representing Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr., City Agriculturist Jose Gil Parreñas representing Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Mr. Alex Valencia representing the Regional Development Council and the NEDA, among others.
It may be recalled that Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes during his visit here told the Ilonggos that matters concerning environment is a rallying point to unify the Filipinos and declared that the nationwide simultaneous tree-planting activity on August 25, 2006 will be successful.
“We are confident that here in Western Visayas, we will successfully deliver the message that the time has come for us all to rally around a cause that is non-political activity,” Secretary Reyes said.
The Green Philippine Highways Project of the DENR is a massive tree planting activity along the country's three major highways.
Covering a total of 3,439 kilometers, the three major highways identified are the Pan-Philippine Highway (Laoag City to Davao City); Manila North Road (Laoag to Manila); and the West Nautical Highway (Batangas City to Zamboanga). Around 500,000 seedlings will be planted nationwide on said date.
(T.Villavert/PIA)