Iloilo City – Regional Director Leo Van V. Juguan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, DENR Region 6 (MGB, DENR-6) said that forty employees of MGB, DENR-6 planted 600 seedlings in barangays Tubod and Maasin, Passi City today highlighting its 114th anniversary celebration.Director Juguan added that each government employee is responsible for planting ten trees every year as part of the government’s National Greening Program.
This year, the city government of Passi provided for the one hectare site and 600 seedlings of Mahogany, Narra, Rain Tree (Acacia) and Tipolo for the MGB’s tree planting.
President Benigno S Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 26 on February 24, 2011, which mandated the goal of planting 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares for a period of six (6) years from 2011 to 2016 under the NGP.
Part of NGP’s social mobilization strategies individually require all government employees to plant a minimum of ten (10) seedlings per year in
areas identified by the agency under its convergence plan.
The NGP ensures that the trees planted survive through its protection and maintenance component a year after the tree planting activity.
Care and protection resoruces is turned-over to the host barangay and people’s organization.
The program also encourages the support of private sectors and civil society groups.
“Tree planting activity is a very relevant activity for government employees as a way of caring for the environment,” Director Juguan said.