Loren launches 10-10 bid

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Loren Legarda re-launched yesterday her tree-planting campaign for an additional 10 million trees in the next ten years.

The launch came amid Legarda’s television commercials lamenting corruption that adversely affects the health, education and livelihood of Filipinos.

Legarda again called on Filipinos to plant trees during the 10th anniversary celebration of Luntiang Pilipinas at Rizal Park in Manila yesterday.

“Now, more than ever, with the onslaught of global warming and the devastating effects of climate change, Luntian firmly stands at the forefront of the crusade for environmental protection and preservation,” she said.

“Believing that greening the environment can help mitigate the threats of global warming to the health, security and lives of the Filipino people, Luntian, now on its 10th year, continues to preserve and carry out its solemn thrust of caring for the environment.”

Present during the celebration were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) undersecretary and Bureau of Plant Industry Director Joel Rudinas.

Legarda also launched her website – www.lorenlegarda.com.ph – where interested parties may enter their pledges to plant as many trees as they can in the areas of their choice.

“Through this important activity, Luntiang Pilipinas hopes to forge stronger partnerships and broaden its network with various stakeholders from all sectors of our society in the hope of securing a better, cleaner and safer environment for our children and our children’s children,” she said.

A memorandum of agreement between the DENR (represented by Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.) and Luntiang Pilipinas has also signed.

The agreement provides a policy direction on environment and natural resources programs such as the Ten Million Trees Program of the Luntian Pilipinas Foundation.

Legarda said the Philippines, being at the receiving end of calamity onslaughts, needs to act now to mitigate the effects of climate change, and that planting trees is the logical step toward achieving its goal.

The Luntian’s project is in line with the United Nations Environment Programme’s seven billion trees by the end of 2009.

Legarda organized the Luntiang Pilipinas in 1998 to raise the Filipinos’ level of awareness of the value of trees.

Since then, two million trees have been planted and cared for through this initiative in 33 provinces and 28 cities.

Luntian has drawn partnerships with various government agencies, private partners, schools and universities, and non-government organizations in its aim to establish forest parks in their respective localities and establishments.

On June 5, 2005, Luntiang launched the National Seedling Bank on the occasion of the World Environment Day at the Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center in Los Baños, Laguna.

Similar seedling banks have been established in different provinces, the latest of which were the ones in Los Baños and San Fernando Airbase in Lipa City.