Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles chose a symbolic location for the launching of his “Save Our Forests Now” program, which seeks to encourage the youth to become more proactive in protecting the environment.
Nograles led last December 12 the planting of 1,000 bamboo saplings along Wawa Dam in Rodriguez town, Rizal. Over 200 students from Colegio de Montalban, University of Rizal System, as well as San Mateo Municipal College participated in the endeavor.
Rodriguez was among the areas badly hit when Typhoon “Ulysses” hammered the country back in November. The massive flooding caused by Ulysses left the town in a state of calamity.
The lawyer-congressman said the program is “a good opportunity to make the youth more involved in climate advocacy.”
“Marami naman sa kabataan ang handang tumulong (Many from the youth are ready to help). We only have to open up avenues for them to be able to direct their desire and energies to worthy causes,” Nograles noted.
He added that more tree-planting and other related environmental activities are slated over the coming months.
“A large number have expressed enthusiasm over the program, and we will be exploring strategic partnerships with other organizations so we can start a sustainable movement that will hopefully be replicated not only in Rizal but in the whole country.”
Nograles underscored the need to take the country’s re-greening program seriously.
He said government funds are already stretched thin due to the pandemic and possible disasters or calamities should be addressed immediately to ensure that recovery is not regularly interrupted.
“By implementing disaster mitigation measures such as reforestation now, we can minimize ad hoc allocations for disaster response that we can otherwise pour onto reviving our economy,” Nograles explained.
He also expressed gratitude that his proposal to create a government body to oversee, manage, and care for the 500 kilometer-long Sierra Madre Mountain Range had been approved by the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization.
The proposed measure seeks to protect the area’s forest cover and prevent flooding in various areas in Luzon.
Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/20/a-symbolic-setting-for-rizal-solons-re-greening-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-symbolic-setting-for-rizal-solons-re-greening-program)
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