DND plans to allot 12,000 hectares for tree nurseries

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) plans to allot 12,000 hectares for tree nurseries in military reservations in support of the government’s greening program.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said providing lots for the National Greening Program would help mitigate the effects of climate change.

“The National Greening Program is in line with our current efforts to reduce the risk of disasters and the effects of climate change. There is really a need for us to be more vigorous in our campaign, in light of recent disasters,” he said in a statement.

The National Greening Program aims to “consolidate and harmonize all greening efforts” of the national and local governments and the private sector. 

The program seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of land for six years from 2011-2016. 

Malacañang called for the implementation of the program under Executive Order 26 issued on Feb. 24, 2011.

The DND has been tasked to put up tree nurseries and to work on seedling production, site preparation and security. 

DND Undersecretary for Finance, Munitions, Installations and Materiel Fernando Manalo manages and supervises the agency’s greening program.  

DND and Armed Forces personnel are encouraged to plant at least 10 seedlings per year in plantation sites in military reservations. 

Among the areas being considered for the program are Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the Kibaritan military reservation in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur, Camp Peralta in Capiz, and the Villaviciosa military reservation in Abra.  

DND has also included putting up bamboo plantations under the greening program.