Council tapping private sector in tree planting

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has urged the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to coordinate widely with the private sector and encourage companies to promote tree planting activities as part of their corporate social responsibility.

In the study done by Councilor Rey Gealon, who is also the one behind the proposal, thousands of trees are cut down in the entire country every day.

“One of the ways to increase the number of trees in the Philippines is through the help of the private sector, particularly through their corporate social responsibility programs,” said Gealon.

He said that apart from providing protection to the environment, it will also benefit human life.

“Private sector may opt to plant trees as part of their corporate social responsibility, which would greatly help, not only the environment, but also the people’s quality of life,” added Gealon.

He entrusted CENRO to expedite the matter since it is the main stakeholder in the matter.

“Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) was created by virtue of City Ordinance No. 2334 to take charge over the information, research, planning, implementation, management, monitoring, enforcement and evaluation of programs, services, projects and activities pertaining to the environment,” the councilor said.

Planting trees is a way of addressing flood problems and other environmental concerns in the city.

Last year, Gealon was also urging the executive department to identify and develop areas within the city for afforestation or reforestation amid rapid development in the upland barangays.

Gealon filed several resolutions in line with the city’s tree planting activities.

Identifying a specific area for tree planting activities will encourage people to be more participative because of the sense of assurance that their efforts will not be in vain. —/GMR (FREEMAN NEWS)