2,000 cops to secure Caraga’s greening project

BUTUAN CITY — More than 2,000 policemen will be deployed along the stretch of the highway from Lipata in Surigao del Norte to Trento in Agusan del Sur to provide security for the people participating in the nationwide tree planting activities under the Green Philippine Highways Project of Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes on Aug. 25.

This was disclosed by Police Superintendent Joselito Fernandez, of the PNP Regional Command, during the meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) at the DENR Regional Training Center in Barangay Ambago on Thursday.

DENR Regional Executive Director Benjamin Tumaliuan said the project will unveil the longest human-chain of tree planters in the country, which will cover about 248 kilometers.

Tumaliuan said he was satisfied by the preparations made by the personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the three provinces, particularly the recruitment of members for the "Green Army"from different sectors. The members were tasked to care for the seedlings to ensure their healthy growth.

Tumaliuan, however, called on other agencies of the government to participate in the program, in compliance with the memorandum was issued by President Arroyo to all Cabinet Secretaries, enjoining them to actively participate in the project.

NEDA Regional Director Carmencita Conchinco, who presided over the RDC meeting, said there were at least 32 agencies in the region that participated in the project.

The RDC said it is still waiting a response from agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, National Statistics Office, Bureau of Fisheries Development, Customs, Bureau of Posts, Justice Department, Public Attorney’s Office, Civil Service Commission, Coast Guard, Maritime Industry, FIDA, COA, land Bank, National Irrigation Administration, Office of Civil Defense, and many others to come forward and be counted as supporters of the project.

Tumaliuan said the entire government machinery in the region is being moved.

Expectations are high on the capability of the local government officials to mobilize their respective constituents for the human chain. Tumaliuan said the bulk of the participants will come from the communities.

The Green Chain Project is included in the 10-point agenda of Mrs. Arroyo. According to experts, it takes about ten trees to override a single car’s poisonous carbon dioxide emission.