AFP launches program to reforest Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is set to plant one million seedlings in vacant spaces in Metro Manila to mitigate the impact of climate change, an official said yesterday.

The reforestation project, scheduled to go full swing from January to March next year, had its soft launch during the Climate Change Summit at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

The “Race to 1,000,000 Seedlings” will be formally launched in January 2016, said Lt. Col. Marlowe Patria, commander of the AFP-Civil Relations Service 7th Civil Relations Group.

Patria, who has yet to identify where in Metro Manila these seedlings would be planted, is encouraging the public to take an active role in the program.

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will choose the specific areas where these seedlings would be planted.

Teach Peace Building Peace Organization, Hero Foundation, Assumption School, Smart Telecommunications, Sagip Kalikasan Foundation and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas have partnered with the military in the regreening program.

According to Patria, NCR was chosen as the target area of the military’s reforestation project since it is the region that has the highest pollution levels in the Philippines.