Manila Bulletin, Philippines : Accord on establishment of first Philippine Botanical Garden okayed

13/07/2003

Accord on establishment of first Philippine Botanical Garden okayed

Speaker Jose de Venecia led the other day the formulation of an interagency cooperation agreement for the establishment of the first Philippine Science and Technology Park in the country that will house the first Philippine Botanical Garden at the Diliman complex in Quezion City for replication nationwide

DE VENECIA

"This project should create a chain reaction nationwide in our efforts to support President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's campaign to promote a healthy natural environment for Filipinos," De Venecia said during the launching of a tree-planting project called "Tanim Ko, Aalagaan Ko," over the weekend in front of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the INNOTECH on Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City.

De Venecia lauded the prime movers of the project- the special committee on reforestation of the House of Representatives led by Rep. Jesnar Falcon and technical working group chair Leovigildo Banaag, the University of the Philippines led by President Francisco Nemenzo and Chancellor Emerlinda Roman and the DENR, led by Undersecretary Rolando Metin representing Secretary Elisea Gozun.

De Venecia urged the Senate to hasten the passage of the House-approved Billion Trees Act of 2003 designed to implement a simultaneous nationwide tree-planting program and check the rampant depletion of the country's forests and mountains.

"We need about one billion trees to reforest all the bald mountains in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The Billion Trees Act would nsure a systematic harvesting and sustained replanting cycle and promote a clean and healthy environment for future generations," De Venecia said.

The House leader assured the people that European nations have already committed e $100 million in no-interest 15-year concessional credits once the bill is passed into law.

"The construction of one power plant would cost more than $1billion. The Billion Trees Act would only need $100 milllion to implement, and yet, it will mean more than $5 billlion worth of trees in 15 years as we solve the country's problems like floods, forest loss, insurgency, unemployment, timber requirements in housing and other environmental and socio-economic problems," De Venecia stressed.

The UP tree-planting program was also atttended by officials and employes of the House of Representatives, UP Diliman, and the Department of Natural Resources who each planted a tree in his name in the area.

De Venecia, Reps. Falcon and Banaag, Dr. Nemenzo and . Metin also signed a memorandum of agreement to maintain and sustain the tree- planting project.

In his message, De Venecia said the Philippines is the only country in Asia without a National Botanical Garden and and a Science and Technology Park.

"Having these parks would not only help ensure a healthy environment, but also help heighten our people's awareness of their role in maintaining and promoting a green natural habitat for all," he added.

De Venecia said he will initiate and file, with Reps. Falcon and Banaag and members of the special committee on reforestation, a resolution officially segregating a substantial portion of the UP Diliman campus inQuezonCity near the Bonsai Garden to build the park.