16,000 trees planted at Alimodian
A total of 16,500 tree seedlings were planted last June 29, 2007 at Agony Hill, Alimodian, Iloilo as part of the Green Philippines Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region VI in line with the National Greening Program of Secretary Angelo T. Reyes.
The tree planting kicked off the six-month program of the DENR in coordination with the Philippine Army and the local government units, the private sector. This is also in line with the Greening Program of the Philippine Army who were mandated to plant about 1.5 million trees for the year.
The tree planting was supported by the DENR with 4,000 seedlings and the local government of Alimodian led by Mayor Juanito A. Alipao provided the balance of 12,500 seedlings. The 3,000 tree planters consisting of 2,000 students from the different schools like the Alimodian Comprehensive High School, the AMA Computer school and delegations from the University of San Agustin, Western Institute of Technology, and University of the Philippines in the Visayas were complemented by the PENRO Iloilo, CENRO Iloilo and DENR regional employees headed by Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio.
In her message during the short program before the tree planting, RED Claudio emphasized that the Green Philippine Program of the DENR is only one of the measures that the DENR is doing to abate the global warming that is now considered as the worst disaster brought about by man and nature. Trees will serve as the carbon sink to trap the carbon dioxide before it will be released gradually into the air.
Mayor Alipao also touched on the subject of climate change as being felt by people all over the country but he emphasized on the need for convergence of all efforts and resources so that whatever developmental activity we may implement, it can be sustained throughout the years. He also gave credit to the youths who were the main recipient of benefits that may derive from the trees that were planted.
The tree planting of the 16,500 seedlings in a day is quite a record to boot that marks the beginning of the Upland Greening and making the Agony Hill a cooler place to go during the Lenten season.