BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A National Greening Program (NGP) Summit is set to be conducted here next week.

It was learned that environmentalists and other nature lovers, including local government units (LGUs), and non-government organizations (NGOs) are expected to participate in the “greening” summit to be held on November 23 at an inland resort, hotel, and convention center here.

It was also learned that the event is organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

The NGP summit aims to identify advocates and build partnerships, leading to a region-wide commitment and participation of various stakeholders in tree-planting and long-term plantation stewards.

The city government here already launched the “One Million” trees project, a program that is being implemented by all village officials in the city.

The PhilSaga Mining Corporation, led by its president, Samuel G. Afdal, has already planted some 272, 211 trees of various species, including fruit trees, and targeted again some 120,000 trees to be planted in an additional area of 200 hectares, in line with their “green” project.