Loving the earth

THERE are many things that some people fear would happen to the earth if we would not do something to protect it. However, if the deep unease and alarm that the public and private sectors are showing now is not enough, I do not know what else needs to be done.

In today’s section on science and the environment in this daily yesterday, it was reported that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set aside P9.5 million for seven troubled watershed areas that need to be protected immediately. The fund is for soil conservation and management.

DENR has identified 10 watershed areas where river bank stabilization projects will be implemented. These are in Buhisan, Argao, Asturias and Luyang (Carmen town) in Cebu; Wahig and Acar in Carmen, Bohol; Bandilaan in Siquijor; Hilabagan and Bayawan in Negros Oriental. But this should not be the lone responsibility of government. Efforts to contain it should be shared.

Meanwhile, the private sector has come to together to tackle the gargantuan problem. The group’s efforts last year was said to have resulted in the planting of 640,000 seedlings in different areas of the country under the Aboitiz Passion for Reforest and Agro-forest to Keep (APARK).

The Aboitiz Group’s annual tree-planting activity has attracted some 3,000 volunteers from the different business units (BUs) all over the country in at least 11 areas in just one day. The group hopes to plant this year, 2013, some three million seedlings, making it some two years ahead of its set goal for 2015.

This is a goal buoyed by deep optimism. In fact, the proponent group hopes that their program would “continue even after the goal is reached. Even in 2012, the BUs cooperating with the Aboitiz Group nationwide also chose projects that conformed to its “sustainability pillars which are aimed to create a balance among people, planet and profit.”

Such a purpose makes the notion of human commitment to survive a heartwarming one. The desire to balance profit motive with altruism assures that man would possess a “healthy planet for future generations.”

One other thing that should call for our recognition and thanks is the partnership of Smart Communications with the Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) in its effort to demonstrate what joint actions could do to help people develop a source of livelihood, like the utilization of bamboo as a source of materials for production of commodities for livelihood.

In the same way that the Aboitiz Group and BUs used discarded crates from their imports to make desks and school benches that the group donates to schools. There are Many things our people can really do for our environment.