BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 30 (PNA) — The National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) boasts of more than 10 million tree seedlings planted in more than 21,000 hectares in the Cordillera region.
Forester Eufronia Muyano of the DENR-NGP operation center, in an interview today, October 30, said that as of September 2014, the region has an accomplishment rate of 87 percent.
Muyano is confident that the office will attain and surpass their objective of planting more than 12 million tree seedlings by the end of the 3rd NGP year.
The province of Apayao registered the highest accomplishment with 98 percent, Abra with 97 percent.
Mountain Province and Baguio-Benguet equally accomplished 90 percent, Kalinga with 76 percent, and Ifugao with 52 percent accomplishment.
Muyano acknowledges the efforts made by the private sector in helping protect the environment and their assistance in realizing the aspirations of the NGP.
The success of the program is attributed to the concerted efforts by the government employees and the private sectors, she said.
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III issued Executive Order 26 creating the NGP as among the strategies to pursue sustainable development, reduce poverty, ensure food security, conserve biodiversity, and for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
All proceeds from agro-forestry plantations duly accounted for by the DENR will accrue to the NGP beneficiary communities to ensure food security and as a means of poverty reduction. (PNA)