By Syril G. Repe

WITH A call to plant trees, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes launched in Negros Oriental the “Green Philippine Highway,” coming ahead of the nationwide simultaneous activity along the country’s three major highways covering a total length of 3,439 kilometers on August 25. Reyes breezed in to Dumaguete City Tuesday morning to spearhead the ceremonial tree planting at the Provincial Capitol area or the Kilometer Zero and a program at the Macias Sports and Cultural Center. In his message to hundreds of students, provincial, and local officials led by Governor George Arnaiz, Reyes said the project was meant to promote the image of every Filipino as a planter of trees.The areas that would be covered by the synchronized tree planting included the 2,176.4 kilometer pan-Philippine Highway from Laoag City through Cagayan de Oro to Davao City; the 439.2-kilometre Manila North Road that meanders from Laoag City through La Union to Bulacan; and the 823.9 kilometer West nautical highway stretching from Batangas City through Mindoro, Aklan, and Negros Oriental to Zamboanga-Sibugay.An estimated 500,000 seedlings are expected to be planted during the occasion to plant both sides of the highways at an interval of ten meters per seedling.Before the August 25 simultaneous launching, Reyes ordered senior field offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to make sure that tree seedlings were available to coordinate with provincial, city, and municipal government units to join the activity.Reyes also ordered the same offices to consult local officials on a memorandum of agreement to maintain and protect the planted trees to ensure their survival. (With reports from Jenny C. Tilos, PIA)
source: Sunstar