Re-green the Philippines

Bicolanos and the rest of the Filipinos should at all given opportunity plant trees and crops and make green every island across the Philippine Archipelago. RE-green the Philippines. Now na! No matter how many Typhoon Ondoy, Reming, Harurot, Sisang and other disastrous weather disturbances come planting is a must for every Pinoy — for food security and to battle global warming. Bicolanos can do it. Fortunately for the first semester of 2009, Bicol Region did not experience grave and harsh natural calamities. As revealed by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ survey for the first six months of this year Bicol emerged the top palay producer in the country. More than 50 percent of Bicolandia is devoted to agriculture. Only 30 percent are forestland and the rest are residential and for commercial and industrial purposes. Not less than 1.2 million hectares of the total land area have been classified alienable and disposable. Bicol posted 17.3 percent growth rate in palay production during the period with Camarines Sur province having the most surplus rice harvest. Ilocos Region came next at 13.08 percent while Central Luzon, third at 9.23 percent. Ilocanos and the rest of the Filipino race can do it! Unfortunately, the onslaught of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng ravaged the farmlands in the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Camarines Sur in Bicol Region. Bicolanos and fellow Filipinos are used to typhoons coming at a yearly average of 20 until 2003 and now reaches a maximum of 39 and its disastrous effects ever since. If typhoon intensity and its number on a yearly basis keep on increasing (huwag naman sana), Pinoys should not put a stop to planting and re-greening our environment. What Pinoys should put an end to, especially the influential ones – our beloved and respected government leaders, is graft and corruption. Propagate good governance. Uproot graft and corruption!