Army joins campaign vs environmental degradation

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from fighting enemies of the government, the Philippine Army officially declared a full offensive against global environmental degradation yesterday.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Victor Ibrado signed a memorandum of agreement with ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan to adopt Tower II at the La Mesa Nature Reserve in Quezon City.

“Environmental degradation is a serious global problem. With the threats posed by climate change – the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet – it is high time that people took notice and do something. The Philippine Army does not only fight threats to national security, but the greater threat posed by environmental degradation as well. It is never too late to act and make a difference,” Bangit said.

With the agreement, the Army is authorized to conduct tree-planting activities and supervise small group bike tours in the reserve.

The Army will also act as the lead agency throughout the duration of the project to fully develop Metro Manila’s watershed into a posh but economical eco-park.

The Army also intends to enhance Tower II by putting up a rappelling site while maintaining its original purpose as a view deck.

Meanwhile, the Caloocan City government, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), conducted a tree-planting activity last week at the banks of the Sapang Alat River.

Some 700 students from the University of Caloocan City and Bread Society International joined local and DENR officials in planting at least 1,000 bitaog trees to stabilize the soil along the riverbank.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri said the strong river current is causing the soil to erode in Bagong Silang’s Phases 7 and 8 and the bitaog tree, a mangrove species that can grow to a height of 25 to 30 meters, “is good for preventing and controlling environmental devastation.”

Alfonso Sta. Maria, chief of the local Environmental Sanitation Services (ESS), said bitaog seed is the best source of tamanu oil, renowned for healing wounds and burns, as well as for general skin care.

Sta. Maria said the tree also provides shade and is good as a windbreaker because of its dense foliage.

Echiverri said the city recently received the “Out of the Box Award” from the Mother Earth Foundation for its efforts and innovative solutions in ecological solid waste management. – Jaime Laude, Pete Laude