Citing the gains in planting, Senator Cynthia A. Villar exhorted the public to participate in planting activities and exert efforts to take care of the plantation.

Aside from making the environment beautiful, Villar related that environmentalists all over the world preach that planting trees and shrubs improve soil and water conservation.

“It helps prevent land erosion, intercept the runoff and reduce the severity of floods, increase wildlife habitat, store carbon dioxide that help in reducing global warming, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate temperature extremes and improve the land’s capacity to adapt to climate change,” also said Villar while quoting environmentalists.

With regards to the planting of agricultural products, she emphasized that it generates employment for our farmers.

“It also strengthened food security in communities in our country,” also said the chairperson of the committees on agriculture and food and environment and natural resources.

She expressed confidence that the public will preserve the health and survival of our trees and other plants.

“Let us exert efforts to take care of the plantation, let us not forget to take care of them to ensure they will bring us benefits,” she further stated.

Being a staunch advocate of the environment and agriculture, the senator said she is happy participating in planting activities.

She proudly related their family and the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) had launched planting in their homecity- Las Piñas.

In 2005, they started planting bamboos at the riverside of Zapote River sa part of their “Sagip Ilog River Rehabilitation Program”.

“Today, you could see that those bamboos have grown completely and they not only make-up a stunning, visually nice setting, but they have been bringing us fresh air in Las Piñas,” she said.

“It also stabilizes our riverbanks and prevents, soil erosion,” she added.

The Tree-Planting Activity in the 5th District of Iloilo led by Cong. Boboy Tupas Theme: “Kaupod sa Pag-asenso ang Pag-ulikid sa Duang Manggad” (Together in our progress is to give care to natural resources).

Source: http://www.senate.gov.ph