Soldiers, Aklanons plant 19,000 trees today

Kalibo, Aklan-- Some 19,000 trees today, July 18, will be planted by soldiers of the 47^th Infantry Battalion, personnel of the Aklan Community Defense Center, government workers from the national and local government units and students as part of their contribution to the government’s Green Philippines program.

According to the Capt. Antonio Tumnog of the 47^th IB based in Camp Jizmundo, Libas, Banga, the planting area for the activities is at Brgy. Panayakan in Tangalan, Aklan. The tree planting activity starts at 8:00 a.m.

Of the 19,000 tree seedlings for the tree planting activity, seven thousand were provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here, while the 12,000 seedlings, consisting of fruit and non-fruitbearing trees, were propagated by the personnel of the Aklan Community Defense Center.

The Aklan Community Defense Center group is joined in the activity by schools here with ROTC units like the Aklan State University and the Northwestern Visayan Colleges. The Aklan 1^st Ready Reserve Battalion is also with the CDC group.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, along with other national government government agencies, civic and volunteer groups, are also joining the tree planting.

The tree planting activity in Aklan initiated by the soldiers was originally scheduled June 29 and was reset for today.

Capt. Tumnog said the tree planting today is just a kick-off activity as the Philippine Army aims to continue this program not only in Aklan or in Western Visayas but in the whole country. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)