Japanese funded refo program in Ajuy now covers 100 hectares
The Japanese-funded reforestation program in the town of Ajuy has now covered 100 hectares which is near its target for this year.
Iloilo fifth district board member Jett Rojas, who started the tie up with the Japanese corporation Media Global Link, Inc. which is funding the project as part of its corporate social responsibility, said that this year target is to plant trees in 150 hectares of public and private lands in his hometown Ajuy.
He said that only last Monday they have planted 39 hectares of privately-owned land in the upland of Ajuy, but unfortunately there were some people who really did not understand the novelty of the project and tried to uproot their newly planted seedlings.
However, he said these are isolated cases and they are not discouraged by it. A social preparation is also being held prior to the actual planting to make the people really understand the importance of tree planting.
Rojas said that the reforestation program in Ajuy has been initiated to encourage the local folks to plant trees and help preserve the ecology. The fund used to buy the seedlings come from the Japanese corporation that is engaged in the manufacture of communication equipment in Japan.
"The president of the corporation provides the fund without interest. In fact, there is also a livelihood component on this," Rojas contended.
He added that after 25 years of planting the trees the farmers or land owners would also be allowed to harvest their trees provided that they replant their harvested areas. (PNA)