[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 12, 2008
In line with blueprint for environment policies
ROXAS CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given the green light to the implementation of the "Green Philippines Plan" – the macro blueprint for mapping the country’s environment and economic policies.
"Protecting the environment is one of our top priorities. An example of our efforts to preserve the "Green Philippines" is our support for the Samar Island protected area, the Southern Leyte ecosystem, and the Bicol River Basin," the President said in her speech enumerating the administration’s "initiatives that seek to protect the fragile ecosystems in Central Philippines, as part of the responsibility of the Philippines to future generations."
The President said the bigger environmental sustainability plan for the entire country is now in the works.
In Capiz, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has conducted a series of launching activities on the GPP’s four thematic areas last year.
These included a tree planting activity on critical watershed, protected areas, protection forest and open lands in Dumarao town; agro-forestry as well as community-based forest management areas in Barangay Agcagay, Jamindan; greening urban areas in Barangay Bato, Roxas City, and greening mangrove and coastal zone areas at Barangay Balaring in Ivisan town.
GPP is part of the government’s eight-point priority agenda dubbed "8 by ‘08" that will fast-track reforestation efforts and the country’s initial contribution to combat global warming.
