[ Manila Bulletin Online ] August 31, 2008
BUTUAN CITY – The environment preservation and forest protection campaign of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) went into high gear as field officers were directed on Friday to be "on guard" on the 753,700 hectares watershed forest reserve spread all over Central Mindanao region.
Central Mindanao DENR regional executive director Jim O. Sampulna, also ordered all regional staff, division heads, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers to go out and help forest rangers in watching the 25 identified watershed forest reserves against "rapists" of the remaining forest cover in the region.
The region’s environment and forest chief also ordered field personnel to closely coordinate with the local government units, non-government organizations, religious groups, academe and farmers in the massive tree planting activities which is one of the priority agenda of President Arroyo’s "tree for life" program.
Recently, Pres. Arroyo constituted the Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development headed by Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo.
"Continuous tree planting is a very vital component in averting flooding problem in our region," said Sampulna.
