Cebu tops Nat'l Greening Program

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu province topped the regional implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) after planting trees in 946 hectares since the program was launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in June this year.

NGP posted an accomplishment of 22% or 1,190.5 out of 5,632 hectares of target area coverage since its launch with Cebu province leading over its neighboring provinces by 48.41%.

Following Cebu is Negros Oriental with 151.62 hectares or 8.13%; Bohol with 5.84%or 1,563 hectares, and Siquijor with 2 hectares or 0.79%.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso said there is a need to closely work together so that the 5,632-hectare target this year will be achieved.

In Cebu province, Dichoso noted that the target of 1,954 hectares was distributed to various Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs).  

Cenro Argao ranked first with 58.27% or 265.7 hectares; Cebu City with 57.32% or 483.8 hectares; Carmen with 179 hectares or 49.48%; and Toledo City with 5.87% or 17.15 hectares.

With a target of greening some 1.5 million hectares of degraded forest lands, Dichoso said the NGP focus will be on developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign.

He added that the program also aims to rejuvenate rural economies in parts of the nation’s most chronically poor areas in the uplands and provide livelihood opportunities for some six million families in the upland areas across the country within six years, from 2011 to 2016. 

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order 26 on February establishing the NGP not only to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land but also to promote a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the harmful effects of climate change. 

The target for Central Visayas region involves planting 2.816 million seedlings to cover 5,632 hectares with Cebu province having the biggest target. (FREEMAN)