Aquino launches National Greening Program at DENR compound in Quezon City
President Benigno Aquino III launched on Friday the National Greening Program (NGP) at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City after issuing an order earlier this year for a nationwide reforestation initiative.
The President issued Executive Order 26 in February this year designating the DENR as the lead agency in carrying out the program in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform.
The order of the President consolidates all the reforestation efforts of the government to regain the country’s depleting forest areas and ensure self-sufficiency in its timber needs.
In his speech at the launch of the NGP, the President called on the people to join him in the greening program saying that the country is now starting to realize its dreams for the benefit of the Filipinos.
Magtulong-tulong tayo sa katuparan ng adhikaing ito. Nasa tamang panahon na tayo upang ganap itong mapagtagumpayan. Kung noon nakakalbo nang nakakalbo ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa gobyerno, sa liwanag ng tunay at tapat na paniniwala, pinatutubo at pinalalago na natin ang kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa pamahalaan,” the President said.
“Abot-kamay na po nating mga Pilipino ang pagbabago at pag-asa. Simulan natin ang pagpapayaman sa mga ito sa paisa-isang punla,” he added.
Under the NGP, the government targets to plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of lands in public domain from 2011 to 2016. The government expects the program could double the efforts achieved in the last 25 years.
The launching of the NGP serves as a potent force for an inter-agency collaboration and stakeholders’ participation towards massive reforestation consistent with Proclamation 125 issued by President Aquino in March this year proclaiming 2011 as the National Year of the Forest.
The government believes that the program could succeed through social mobilization, harmonizing government initiatives, grant of incentives and data base monitoring.
Areas that will be covered under the program include forest lands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas and abandoned mine sites.
For 2011, the government targets to reforest 100,000 hectares of land under the NGP and increase it to 200,000 hectares for 2012. The coverage will then be increased to 300,000 hectares in the succeeding years until 2016.
The President’s environmental activity culminated with the unveiling of the Bulwagang Ninoy Statue as well as the inspection of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center also in Quezon City.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes and United Nations Country Representative Jacqueline Badcock joined the President during the NGP launching rites. (PCOO)
Aquino pays tribute to six ‘environmental heroes’
President Benigno Aquino III paid tribute to the six “environmental heroes” who died in the line of duty to protect the environment.
The Chief Executive joined other environment officials in honoring the “environment heroes” during the launch of the National Greening Program (NGP) on Friday at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City.
“Kinikilala rin po natin sa araw na ito ang anim na Pilipino na ginampanan ang kanilang tungkulin para sa kalikasan hanggang sa huling sandali ng kanilang mga buhay. Sila po ang pinarangalan natin ng ‘enviromental heroes’ award ngayon,” the President said during a speech in recognition of their heroism.
“Maging mabuting halimbawa nawa ang kanilang dedikasyon at propesyunalismo sa lahat ng Pilipino,” he added.
According to the President, his administration is extending financial assistance, livelihood support, and scholarship grants to the families of the victims.
Among the DENR employees who received the posthumous award include: Kennedy Eber Bayani of Apayao province, Rolando Sinday and Jacinto Dragas of Surigao del Sur and Pierre Gillo of Samar. Non-DENR employees are Nelson Luna and Christopher Mazo of Surigao del Sur.
The President planted a Narra seedling at the Heroes Park at the back of the DENR building in Quezon City following the awarding ceremony, which is one of the highlights of the NGP launching.
The Heroes Park was established in 1995 as a way of paying tribute to the men and women of the DENR who perished defending their ideals of protecting the environment.
The park features a sculpture called “Rocks and Columns of Heroes” created by Filipino artist and University of the Philippines professor Nestor Olarte Vinluan. (PCOO)
Aquino orders DOJ and BIR to expedite resolutions of tax evasion cases
President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to make sure that the cases filed against tax evaders will bring positive resolutions.
In an ambush interview following the launching of the National Greening Program at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday in Quezon City, the President said that he is happy that the BIR was able to do its mission in filing tax evasion suits every other week.
“As far as the Executive Department is concerned, masaya tayo na na-accomplished iyong mission ng BIR to file cases every other week,” the President said.
He pointed out that the reason why he keeps on telling the DOJ and the BIR to keep a tight guard on the cases they had filed was to ensure that all cases would be heard and those found liable would be punished even before his term ends in 2016.
“As you know, judicial reform is one of our agenda. So I keep on telling the DOJ and the BIR itself, to make sure that we do everything in our powers to expedite the resolution of the cases,” the President stressed.
He vowed that his administration is firm with its stand to prosecute all those found with prima facie evidences.
“Kapag may pruweba, merong nagkasala, kailangan may kaukulang kaparusahan,” he stressed. (PCOO)
President Benigno Aquino III launched on Friday the National Greening Program (NGP) at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City after issuing an order earlier this year for a nationwide reforestation initiative.
The President issued Executive Order 26 in February this year designating the DENR as the lead agency in carrying out the program in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform.
The order of the President consolidates all the reforestation efforts of the government to regain the country’s depleting forest areas and ensure self-sufficiency in its timber needs.
In his speech at the launch of the NGP, the President called on the people to join him in the greening program saying that the country is now starting to realize its dreams for the benefit of the Filipinos.
Magtulong-tulong tayo sa katuparan ng adhikaing ito. Nasa tamang panahon na tayo upang ganap itong mapagtagumpayan. Kung noon nakakalbo nang nakakalbo ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa gobyerno, sa liwanag ng tunay at tapat na paniniwala, pinatutubo at pinalalago na natin ang kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa pamahalaan,” the President said.
“Abot-kamay na po nating mga Pilipino ang pagbabago at pag-asa. Simulan natin ang pagpapayaman sa mga ito sa paisa-isang punla,” he added.
Under the NGP, the government targets to plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of lands in public domain from 2011 to 2016. The government expects the program could double the efforts achieved in the last 25 years.
The launching of the NGP serves as a potent force for an inter-agency collaboration and stakeholders’ participation towards massive reforestation consistent with Proclamation 125 issued by President Aquino in March this year proclaiming 2011 as the National Year of the Forest.
The government believes that the program could succeed through social mobilization, harmonizing government initiatives, grant of incentives and data base monitoring.
Areas that will be covered under the program include forest lands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas and abandoned mine sites.
For 2011, the government targets to reforest 100,000 hectares of land under the NGP and increase it to 200,000 hectares for 2012. The coverage will then be increased to 300,000 hectares in the succeeding years until 2016.
The President’s environmental activity culminated with the unveiling of the Bulwagang Ninoy Statue as well as the inspection of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center also in Quezon City.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes and United Nations Country Representative Jacqueline Badcock joined the President during the NGP launching rites. (PCOO)
Aquino pays tribute to six ‘environmental heroes’
President Benigno Aquino III paid tribute to the six “environmental heroes” who died in the line of duty to protect the environment.
The Chief Executive joined other environment officials in honoring the “environment heroes” during the launch of the National Greening Program (NGP) on Friday at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City.
“Kinikilala rin po natin sa araw na ito ang anim na Pilipino na ginampanan ang kanilang tungkulin para sa kalikasan hanggang sa huling sandali ng kanilang mga buhay. Sila po ang pinarangalan natin ng ‘enviromental heroes’ award ngayon,” the President said during a speech in recognition of their heroism.
“Maging mabuting halimbawa nawa ang kanilang dedikasyon at propesyunalismo sa lahat ng Pilipino,” he added.
According to the President, his administration is extending financial assistance, livelihood support, and scholarship grants to the families of the victims.
Among the DENR employees who received the posthumous award include: Kennedy Eber Bayani of Apayao province, Rolando Sinday and Jacinto Dragas of Surigao del Sur and Pierre Gillo of Samar. Non-DENR employees are Nelson Luna and Christopher Mazo of Surigao del Sur.
The President planted a Narra seedling at the Heroes Park at the back of the DENR building in Quezon City following the awarding ceremony, which is one of the highlights of the NGP launching.
The Heroes Park was established in 1995 as a way of paying tribute to the men and women of the DENR who perished defending their ideals of protecting the environment.
The park features a sculpture called “Rocks and Columns of Heroes” created by Filipino artist and University of the Philippines professor Nestor Olarte Vinluan. (PCOO)
Aquino orders DOJ and BIR to expedite resolutions of tax evasion cases
President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to make sure that the cases filed against tax evaders will bring positive resolutions.
In an ambush interview following the launching of the National Greening Program at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday in Quezon City, the President said that he is happy that the BIR was able to do its mission in filing tax evasion suits every other week.
“As far as the Executive Department is concerned, masaya tayo na na-accomplished iyong mission ng BIR to file cases every other week,” the President said.
He pointed out that the reason why he keeps on telling the DOJ and the BIR to keep a tight guard on the cases they had filed was to ensure that all cases would be heard and those found liable would be punished even before his term ends in 2016.
“As you know, judicial reform is one of our agenda. So I keep on telling the DOJ and the BIR itself, to make sure that we do everything in our powers to expedite the resolution of the cases,” the President stressed.
He vowed that his administration is firm with its stand to prosecute all those found with prima facie evidences.
“Kapag may pruweba, merong nagkasala, kailangan may kaukulang kaparusahan,” he stressed. (PCOO)
