PARANG, Sulu, Philippines – The Aquino administration’s National Greening Program in the countryside was formally launched here with over 2,000 people joining hands in planting about 5,000 seedlings of high-value forest and fruit trees along the roads of this municipality.

Rep. Tupay Loong (1st District, Sulu), Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, and Parang Mayor Madzhar Loong led members of the United States (US) Forces in Sulu under the Balikatan program, police and military personnel, local government officials, students, teachers, and local residents of this town in planting trees along the road network and other vacant areas in this town.

Loong said that about 300,000 seedlings of various high-value species of trees will also be planted along the roads in the towns of Jolo, Parang, Maimbung, Indanan, Talipao, Patikul, Panglima Tahil, and Pangutaran.

He said the massive tree planting activity here is in line with Executive Order No. 26 or the National Greening Program of the national government which President Aquino issued and signed last February 24.

As this developed, Loong lauded the policy of the administration to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation through massive planting of trees.

Meanwhile, among the forest and fruit trees that were planted in this town include mahogany, narra, jati, jackfruit, lanzones, durian, mangosteen, and rambutan.

For his part, Tan said the government’s greening program in the countryside is one of the best measure’s to be adopted to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Adding that planting of trees would also help restore the ecosystem that is now slowly dying.

According to Loong, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allotted some P5 million for the procurement of 300,000 of seedlings of forest and fruit trees.