Citing the benefits of planting for the environment, Senator Cynthia A. Villar urged the public to participate in planting activities.
Aside from making the environment beautiful, Villar said that environmentalists all over the world preach that planting trees and shrubs improve soil and water conservation.
“It helps prevent land erosion, intercept the runoff and reduce the severity of floods, increase wildlife habitat, store carbon dioxide that help in reducing global warming, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate temperature extremes and improve the land’s capacity to adapt to climate change,” Villar said.
Planting of agricultural products also generates employment for farmers, Villar added.
“It also strengthened food security in communities in our country,” Villar, the chairperson of the committees on agriculture and food and environment and natural resources, said.
She expressed confidence that the public will preserve the health and survival of trees and other plants.
“Let us exert efforts to take care of the plantation, let us not forget to take care of them to ensure they will bring us benefits,” she further stated.
Being a staunch advocate of the environment and agriculture, the senator said she is happy participating in planting activities.
She proudly related their family and the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) had launched planting in their home city of Las Piñas.
In 2005, they started planting bamboos at the riverside of Zapote River sa part of their “Sagip Ilog River Rehabilitation Program.”
“Today, you could see that those bamboos have grown completely and they not only make-up a stunning, visually nice setting, but they have been bringing us fresh air in Las Piñas,” she said.
“It also stabilizes our riverbanks and prevents, soil erosion,” she added.
The Tree-Planting Activity in the 5th District of Iloilo led by Cong. Boboy Tupas Theme: “Kaupod sa Pag-asenso ang Pag-ulikid sa Duang Manggad” (Together in our progress is to give care to natural resources).