Officially institutionalizing the National Greening Program (NGP), Executive Order No. 26, which seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees within the six-year term of President Aquino, is most laudable. Nay, it is essential in combating climate change and saving mankind. For our sake, this program must not fail. Every able-bodied Filipino must contribute to make it succeed.
The Trees for Life Foundation, as a revolutionary strategy to ensure the success of the program, was wholeheartedly supported by then Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo during his brief term in office. It did well, resulting in the promulgation of DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Memorandum Circular No. 21 and, subsequently, EO 26. With the untimely demise of Secretary Robredo the program, unfortunately, came to a halt.
From the announcements of the NGP it appears the program is behind schedule. There are still three more years of the tenure of the present administration. There is still time. The cornerstone of the strategy is the utilization of the 42,000 barangays all over the country. We respectfully appeal to current Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to take up the cudgels and get the job done.
—ANTONIO LEVISTE, N209P-0226, New Bilibid Prisons