Monday, 28 March 2011 10:34
"Without the tree, we are doomed. It's as simple as that," Aumentado said, author of House Resolution 1140 which enjoins each lawmaker to set aside part of his/her priority development fund (PDAF) for the program.
Aumentado, who also Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics, is proposing that the Departments of Education, Environment and Natural Resources, and Agriculture set up a nationwide seed banks to support the massive reforestation to combat global warming.
"We are running against time. All other infrastructure projects would be worthless if we continue to be indifferent to the real problem - man's continued destruction of nature," Aumentado said.
The continuing wrath of nature, punctuated by the earthquakes and tsunamis, should be a wake up call for man, he stressed, noting the unimaginable damage and loss of lives.
Aumentado said that PNoy's bid to mitigate global warming in the country led to the launching of the "One Billion Trees" program to be implemented all over the land, which needs the active support of every Filipino.
"This program is visionary which must be supported by Congress and all government line departments and agencies, and the private sector. Our future is at stake and no one is exempted from the ill-effects of climate change," Aumentado said.
Aumentado said that the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives must support the President's initiative not just by legislation, but "more importantly, to lead by example, to set aside part of their PDAF to help finance the seed banks of nurseries of the local government units (KGUs) and schools all over the country to provide the necessary seedlings to implement the program."
He noted that the priority areas for the program should be the watersheds, denuded forest zones, idle lands, areas not cultivated for agriculture purposes and vacant lots in areas classified as alienable and disposable and others that would contribute to mitigate global warming and provide water sources for the people's potable drinking water, irrigation and hydro power generation.
There is, Aumentado added, an imperative need for the speedy action by Congress, "especially the House and all departments herein requested to implement this Resolution to include in their respective budget from whatever sources under the 2011 GAA especially from their (lawmakers') PDAFs and set aside the necessary amount under the proposed 2012 GAA and for other purposes."
"Let's all act now before it's too late," Aumentado declared.
source: www.congress.gov.ph
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