Jim Sampulna, DENR Region 12 director, said in a press statement that they will soon launch a regionwide massive seedling production program in support of the Green Philippines Project, the expanded version of the Green Philippines Highways initiative.
“We intend to plant one million trees throughout the region through this new tree planting program,” he said.
Sampulna said the seedling production program will focus on the use of hard wood and fruit trees species endemic in the region’s four provinces and five cities.
Region 12 is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Tacurong.
As part of the social mobilization strategy of the Green Philippines Master Plan, the DENR will tap regional offices, local government units and concerned organizations as partners.
Sampulna said this is to complement the main objective of the new tree planting program which is to enhance the community’s participation to ensure its sustainability.
“We want to get the best minds and best ideas to come up with a realistic and workable plan for the implementation of the project in the region,” he said.
Muripaga Umpar, DENR Region 12 Technical Director for Forestry, said their office was tapped to coordinate, monitor, integrate and provide technical assistance to seedling production and the actual tree planting programs.
He said the other support services will be provided by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices.
Region 12 topped last year’s launching of the Green Philippines Highways project for “greening” at least 550.6 kilometers of the region’s national highways.(Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)