The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is going green, and not just with its uniforms.
The agency now has its own park in Tanay, Rizal, where various tree species will be planted as part of the National Greening Program.
PDEA personnel with other government employees and civil society groups held a tree planting at the 10-hectare park in Sitio (settlement) Tablon, Barangay (village) Cuyambay, recently.
Around 550 dalandan and other fruit trees were planted in a network of burrow holes at the PDEA-Tanay Park.
PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the park was a joint project of the agency and the Tanay local government led by Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco.
鈥淭his is our contribution to the government鈥檚 forest rehabilitation initiative, the National Greening Program,鈥� Cacdac said.
PDEA personnel in their distinctive green uniforms, local government employees, Calabarzon police, soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division, civil society groups, students and local scouts joined the activity.
鈥淕reen is the color of nature, fertility and life in general. Green is also the color of PDEA, thus, it is the color of the nations鈥� war against the drug menace,鈥� Cacdac said.
The park lies on mountainous terrain in Barangay Cuyabay, a kilometer from the road.
This was PDEA鈥檚 second tree planting in the area and was part of the agency鈥檚 observation of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.
鈥淧lanting trees is essential to mitigate the effects of global change and preserve the natural environment for future generations,鈥� Cacdac said.
Under the National Greening Program, the government targets the planting of 1.5 billion trees on 1.5 million hectares between 2011 and 2016.
All students and government employees are required to plant a minimum of ten seedlings per year, while the private sector and civil society groups are encouraged to participate in the endeavor.