Baguio City had been adjudged as a Hall of Famer in the nationwide “Cleanest and Greenest City” for becoming a three-time consecutive winner in the late 1990s and early 2000.

“Only 2 of 6 CAR provinces not bald”

Peñafiel said only two of the six Cordillera provinces are not bald. Apayao province has at least 80 percent forest cover while Abra has more than 50 percent. Ifugao, Kalinga, Benguet and Mountain Province forests have thinned, he told reporters.

Like Baguio, the rest of the Cordillera provinces which are all highland areas must have thicker forests because it has steeper slopes and mountains, said Peñafiel, a forester by profession. “This is a mission everybody has to face,” he said.

On Aug. 25, the DENR launches its Green Philippine Highways to sound out an urgent call for the need to green, beautify and clean the landscape along major highways and to confront pollution from motor vehicles.

At least 20 major highways totaling 674.5 kms linking the Cordillera provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province and the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions will be targeted by groups joining the massive nationwide re-greening.

In Baguio City, trees will be planted by groups along Marcos Highway, Kennon and Naguillan Roads. “If the 300,000 residents of Baguio City will plant one tree each, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be reduced by 1,770 kg a year,” Peñafiel said.

Cosmetics only?

Although Peñafiel admits the program is seemingly “cosmetic” because what really is needed is the re-greening of the forests and not the highways, he said it will rouse the Filipino people to awareness of re-greening the nation.

“Pag pumunta ka sa bundok agad, di (If you go straight to the mountains, it is not) visible. Hindi makikita ng tao (People cannot see it). Kokonti (There is little) impact, unlike along the highways where they can immediately see the beauty,” he said.

The DENR-CAR official further explained that after a three-year time or so of rousing the awareness of the Filipino nation, “we will expand to the mountains.” Bulatlat

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