Quirino governor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president Dax Cua expressed his full support for an order requiring contractors with flood control projects funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways to plant trees.
“We welcome and fully support this DPWH order, which will advance our nationwide effort to make our country green again,” Cua said.
The country’s forest cover is steadily declining, with Global Forest Watch reporting that the Philippines lost 158,000 hectares of primary forest from 2002 to 2021. The total tree cover loss over the same time period was 1.34 million hectares.
The DPWH on Tuesday released Department Order (DO) No. 238, series of 2022, which directs implementing offices nationwide to plant 1,000 seedlings/trees for every flood control project with a contract amount of at least PHP5 million.
An additional 1,000 seedlings/trees would be planted for every added PHP5 million in the contract, or a fraction thereafter.
Cua lauded the agency for following the order of President Ferdinand Marcos to address deforestation in the country.
The country’s forest cover is steadily declining, with Global Forest Watch reporting that the Philippines lost 158,000 hectares of primary forest from 2002 to 2021. The total tree cover loss over the same time period was 1.34 million hectares.
“We cannot emphasize enough the urgency of the worsening climate, which is exacerbated by continued deforestation, so we must act with haste to implement measures that would help mitigate its effects,” Cua said.
The governor urged other government agencies to comply with the president’s order.
“I hope the rest of the government complies with PBBM’s order. We are in an ‘all hands on deck’ situation, kaya’t dapat magtulungan at mag-ambag ang lahat para muling mapalago ang ating mga kagubatan,” said Cua.
Cua has repeatedly called for the creation of a “green wall” across the whole country to mitigate the effects of the climate and protect communities against typhoons.
