DENR to plant million trees along ARMM highways

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012208
• Monday, October 9, 2017 6:37 pm

By Edwin Fernandez (PNA)

COTABATO CITY -- Before they bow out of office when the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law becomes operational in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), environment officials will start planting millions of trees along major highways in the ARMM to establish an environmentally-friendly landmark, officials said Monday.

Forester Kahal Kedtag, regional secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the program will be pioneered in Maguindanao, which hosts the nursery that houses millions of seedlings in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat.

Speaking to reporters, Kedtag said the greening program, aligned with the national greening program, will be participated in by regional and provincial DENR workers, local government units, police, military and non-government organizations.

ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and also the cities of Marawi and Lamitan.

Kedtag said the program aims to plant forest trees along stretches of the Cotabato-Isulan highway in Maguindanao. Tree planting activities will start soon.

"Once the trees grow along the highways, motorists passing the road will manage to identify that they are in the ARMM,” Kedtag said.

He noted that it was ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman who floated the idea, as the regional officials want to leave a legacy to the Bangsamoro people.

“Even Moro rebels who signed the peace deal with the government are invited to participate in this project that benefits all, regardless of political, religious, cultural and race identification,” Kedtag said.