Tree-planting program gets P5 billion

The Department of Budget and Management on Thursday said it released P4.99 billion to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the implementation of the National Greening Program, which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees across 1.5 million hectares nationwide by 2016.

The program aims to cover approximately 300,000 hectares each year until 2016, according to the DENR.

“Our funding support for the National Greening Program is well-timed, given that the season’s regular rainfall will allow seedlings to grow faster. This year, the DENR’s tree-planting efforts will give particular attention to areas with high poverty levels, as well as regions that are susceptible to natural disasters,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

“We’re not just looking at these options and twiddling our thumbs over them. We’re taking active steps to implement our disaster risk management programs,” he said.

The program has exceeded its annual area coverage targets by an average of 20 percent for the first three years of implementation.

Last year, it exceeded its annual target by 33,011 hectares, resulting in 182,548,862 seedlings planted in 333,160 hectares nationwide.

Moreover, the planting program has generated a total of 1.2 million jobs in different regions nationwide since 2011. Last year alone, it was able to hire 466,990 employees which is the highest number recorded since the program began.

“Aside from mitigating the devastating effects of climate change, the program also provides livelihood opportunities to the local residents. Our efforts to protect our environment go hand-in-hand with our commitment to protect and improve the living conditions of our people, besides catalyzing economic growth in agriculture-based communities,” Abad added.

Of the P5-billion, the Zamboanga Peninsula will receive the lion’s share of P384.8 million for the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Sibugay. This is followed closely by Region IV-A (CALABARZON) with P379.3 million for the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal. Central Luzon—which includes the provinces of Aurora, Pampanga, and Zambales—has also been allotted P366.7 million. –Jennifer Ambanta, Manila Standard Today