Aklan Green Philippines program expanded

Kalibo, Aklan – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources here has expanded the Green Philippines program.

Starting the program last year with the Green Philippine Highway Project, expansion is being effected with the inclusion of vacant public and private lands, according to Derlito Rico, Environment Management Specialist here of DENR-Aklan during a recent radio interview.

Rico said these vacant lots will be planted with ornamental and flowering plants, fruit trees and forest trees with the the help of people’s organizations, local government units and government agencies. The move, according to Rico, which generated a positive response from the public, is seen to store more underground water supply, give shade, create beautiful scenery and contribute other ecological benefits to the public and the environment.

Also, with the intense summer heat that caused some provinces to suffer limited water supply, Aklan is initiating the development of its watershed area in Madalag through planting of forest and fruit trees to prevent water shortage situation in Aklan. The arrangement involves the provision by DENR of planting materials while the officials and employees of the Metro Kalibo Water District here, the local government units and other people’s organizations will do the planting.

Caretakers will be assigned to watch and protect the watershed area, according to the DENR.

The Green Philippine Highway Project in Aklan involves the 114.2 stretch of national highway from Caticlan, Malay to Cabangila, Altavas, which was planted August 25 of last year with ornamental and flowering plants to beautify the roadside, the route of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Greening the Philippines, involving the improvement and protection of the environment, is one of the “8 by 2008” Priority Programs of the national government.

The others are job creation, better cost of living, a strong peso, more investments, pro-poor education, pro-poor health care, housing, food and anti-terrorism. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)