'Trees/Books' project cops Lingkod Bayan award

MANILA, Philippines - The project “Trees for Books/Books for Trees” of the Regional Public Affairs Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR) received the 2010 Presidential Lingkod Bayan award (Group Category).  

In exchange for books given to the schools, school officials and teachers as well as the parents and students are requested to plant trees – either forest or fruit trees – within their school compound or, in the absence of space for planting within the school compound, they may plant within an area to be identified by school or barangay officials.

Started in 2005, the project is unique to the DENR-CAR.

It has benefited 43 schools and around 5,000 students and faculty recipients of 6,101 assorted books and magazines, resulting in a total of 4,999 assorted seedlings planted by the recipients.

The group, composed of Abner Villanueva, team leader; Perlita Nerja, Gayle Astudillo, Ferdinand Corpuz and Parisio Laluan, received the award from President Aquino last Friday.

Lingkod Bayan awardees receive a gold medallion, a plaque and cash award of P100,000.

The winning group was recently honored during the Parangal para sa Katangi-tanging Kawani ng Cordillera, together with the five other finalists from CAR.

The Honor Awards Program (HAP) is an annual undertaking of the Civil Service Commission to recognize government officials and employees who have displayed outstanding work performance. The conferment of honor awards aims to motivate and inspire government employees to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.

The search culminates with the recognition and conferment of awards to deserving public servants during the celebration of the anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service in September every year.