STO.TOMAS, Davao del Norte – As part of his environment advocacy program, Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr. of the 2nd District has set aside a total of P5.5 million to launching a green revolution to reforest the hundreds of hectares of denuded areas in this town.

In partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Local Government of Sto.Tomas, Lagdameo signed a Memorandum of Agreement allocating the amount for a reforestation project in the upland areas of the town which form part of the Tuganay Watershed.

Lagdameo himself led the planting of various species of seedlings during the ceremonial launching of the reforestation project in the upland areas, saying such little things could contribute to mitigate global warming.

Present during the MOA signing and the ceremonial tree planting were officials from the DENR led by Regional Director Jim Sampulna, Davao del Norte PENR Officer Ruth Tawantawan, and Panabo CENRO Antonio Inguillo.

Mayor Maximo Estela, who is himself a known leader in protecting the beauty of nature with his no-nonsense implementation of Solid Waste Management in the municipality, together with Balagunan Barangay Capt. Rufo Jedie Angco and other village officials also joined teachers and students of Balagunan National High School in the undertaking.

The reforestation project covers the barangays of Balagunan, Bobongon and New Visayas in Sto.Tomas town and approximately hundreds of hectares will primarily be planted with rubber trees.

Lagdameo said the project is expected to boost the greening program of the government by increasing upland vegetation that would eventually give additional livelihood source to farmers, decrease global warming, and protect low-lying areas of the watershed from catastrophic tragedies such as the recent floods in Metro Manila and Luzon.