[ Manila Bulletin Online ] June 29, 2008
By BRENDA P. TUAZON
Former President Joseph Estrada cited yesterday the successful reforestation initiative to protect the environment and natural resources being implemented by the people of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan led by Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
Estrada said if adopted nationwide, it will spell the big difference between food security and food shortage that will benefit or harm future generations.
Speaking before a big crowd during a tree-planting ceremony that included local officials and representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs) highlighting the month-long celebration of Palawan’s Feast of Forest Month, Estrada said the reforestation efforts of Hagedorn and the people of Palawan "deserve the nation’s accolade for making this country a better place to live in."
"The reforestation efforts of Mayor Hagedorn and the people of Palawan continue to underline the urgent need for reforestation and protecting the country’s natural resources and environment that have become most compelling," Estrada said.
The opposition leader said that Palawan’s successful experience in promoting and protecting the environment has made the province as "the last real frontier in this country" and cited the preservation of its subterranean river that was nominated as one of the seven natural wonders of the world along with the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.
"In planting trees and protecting our natural resources, we are planting the future because future generations will benefit and be served by the seeds we are now planting, while in failing to implement such an effort, future generations may not forgive the shortcomings of both government and society before them," Estrada said.
"Maybe the multi-billion dollar anomalies, extra-judicial killings, deprivation of human rights, rigged presidential elections, and humongous foreign debt can be forgiven by our children’s children and grandchildren, but certainly future generations cannot forgive us for bequeathing to them a garbage-filled and pollution-rich country with depleted forests and natural resources," he said.
By neglect, he said, the present generation is not only devastating the environment, "but compromising the future of coming generations by depleting our forests, our oceans, our mangroves, and the rest of our natural resources and environment."
"Food security and food sufficiency will continue to escape us if we do not stop exploiting our natural resources without an agenda of reforestation and protecting our environment," he said.
Estrada said the rice and problem are "dangerously early warning signs."
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