Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer 2 Mario Aragon, of Negros Oriental, said that much as the department would like to assist partner-agencies in the National Greening Program, the planting of trees should be done right and at the appropriate time.

Aragon said that certain government agencies in Negros Oriental want to plant the required number of trees per month, for the sake of complying with the directive from the national government, even if the survival rate of the trees is not assured, especially in March and April when there is less rainfall.

One of the agencies he mentioned is the Philippine National Police, where each policeman was directed to plant six trees every month, or 72 trees this year.

Aragon added that a police station in southern Negros Oriental submitted an accomplishment report that included banana plants among the achievements of a policeman.

He said he wanted to talk to the police to educate them in order not to waste time, effort and seedlings. He added that the required number of seedlings per policeman can be planted in one setting, provided it is undertaken in designated areas such as the river banks of Bacong, Sibulan, and Amlan, and in coordination with local government units.

The same is true for the Department of Education that requires the planting of one tree seedling per student each month, Aragon added.*JG

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