Palace backs plan to require franchise, license seekers to plant trees

Malacañang on Tuesday backed the proposal of the Department of Transportation to require applicants for a franchise or license to plant trees to boost the government’s reforestation program.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque gave the assurance during his press briefing in Cagayan, where Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade made the proposal on Sunday in response to the massive flooding that hit the province following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses last week.

“Iyan po ay magiging polisiya. Iyan po ay minungkahi ni Secretary Tugade sa lahat ng kukuha ng prangkisa, pero iyan po ay ipatutupad niya,” Roque said.

Roque added that he would coordinate with the Department of Education so that students will be required to plant trees.

“Alam po natin na isa sa long-term solution para maiwasan itong ganitong kalalang pagbaha na na-experience dito sa Cagayan ay ibalik po natin ang mga puno sa mga kabundukan,” he said.

Aside from reforestation, Tugade had also proposed the dredging of Cagayan River to address the problem of heavy siltation. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the dredging will cover 30 kilometers.

Eighteen major rivers in Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and the Cordillera Administrative Region drain into the Cagayan River, making the province prone to flooding, the DENR said. -NB, GMA News