Typhoon devastation underscores natural value of trees — lawmaker

A senior member of Congress is pushing a bill that would compel every city and town nationwide to put up community orchards, saying Typhoon Milenyo had once again underscored the natural value of trees.

"Thousands of trees were felled by Milenyo. Clearly, if not for the trees that cushioned the typhoon’s furious winds, more homes could have been crushed and more people could have been tormented," Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said the devastation caused by Milenyo should serve as another wake up call for communities. "Forest parks and community orchards can definitely end off the destructive effects of more typhoons and other violent forces of nature," he said.

Villafuerte is author of House Bill 3559, which seeks to mandate every city and municipality countryside to establish community orchards.

Each community orchard would be located on 5,000 to 10,000 square meters of suitable land. Provincial governments would cover the cost of acquiring the land and facilities for the orchards, or secure the estate by donation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources would be required to provide the initial seeds, seedlings and cuttings for, and technical assistance to the orchards.

"Besides improving air quality, protecting watersheds and curbing soil erosion, fruit-bearing trees provide a natural source of food for consumption, or for development into full-scale economic enterprises," Villafuerte pointed out.

He also said community orchards could provide ready local access to technology, training and materials needed to spur the widespread cultivation of fruit-bearing trees and plants as a source of livelihood and new employment.

"We can actually transform fruit-growing into a booming industry, with great domestic as well as export market potential," he added.

Under HB 3559, the community orchards would:

• Establish experimental plantations of different fruit-bearing trees and plants;

• Put up a center where trees and plants can be processed, packaged and sold; or where seeds, seedlings or cuttings can be dispersed to the barangays;

• Create information programs to educate local communities on the cultivation of fruit-bearing trees and plants for food and profit; and

• Extend technical and advisory services to those already engaged or interested in building enterprises related to fruit-bearing trees and plants.

Villafuerte is also author of another bill seeking to revive Arbor Day, which is celebrated in many parts of the globe and dedicated to wide-scale tree-planting and caring, and to heightening public awareness of the growing importance of trees to human life, health and the environment.

Under House Bill 3821, which the House previously passed on third and final reading, all provinces, cities and municipalities would be required to declare an Arbor Day, through appropriate proclamations by their chief executives.

Local governments would fix the suitable date every calendar year, and decide whether or not to declare it a territorial public holiday.