A team of volunteers from Marlow Philippines embarked on another tree planting mission last week, this time at La Mesa Watershed Reservation, Quezon City in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region.
Head of the National Greening Project (NGP) Operation Center, Benedicto Paguyo, assisted the group through the forest, along the way providing practical advice and education on forest protection and restoration.
This initiative forms part of the country’s Enhanced National Greening Program, which includes preservation and conservation of its natural resources, with rehabilitation of 1.2 million hectares of denuded forest lands by the end of 2022 and maintenance and protection of existing forests.
It also forms part of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)’s requirement for every contract, accreditation and permits issued by the agency to help promote environmental protection and sustainability. PPA Administrative Order No. 14-2020, signed by PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, requires the applicants/grantees of contracts, accreditations and permits, among others, to plant 1,000 seedlings of trees or mangroves in coordination with the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) within their respective business locations.
“This order will be the PPA’s humble contribution to the country’s move towards a greener environment which in turn will be beneficial to the future generation,” stated PPA last year. “Climate change has really affected us the past couple of years, and this endeavour is one good proactive measure to ensure comfortable lives for Filipinos for years to come,” he added.
