Mimaropa cops to plant 1 million trees by end of 2022

CITY OF CALAPAN – At least one million seedlings of trees are being targeted for planting by police in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region by the end of 2022, an official said on Friday, July 29.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Sidney Sultan Hernia, chief of Mimamaropa police regional office,  said they would involve all police units in the region to achieve the target.

“They (policemen) are all tasked with planting a total of 572,976 seedlings by December 2022, or 95,496 seedlings per month within a period of 5 months,” said Hernia.

Dubbed “eco-warriors,” the policemen had planted 427,024 seedlings of fruit and non-fruit-bearing trees with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and stakeholders in the region.

“Aside from intensifying our tree-planting efforts, we will also be more aggressive in our campaign against illegal logging activities and violations of environmental laws,” said Hernia.

Mimaropa policemen conducted 188 police operations which resulted in the arrest of 195 people and the confiscation of 39,313.80 board feet of illegally cut lumber worth P1,485,022.64 since January this year, according to the Regional Operations Division.

“Part of our efforts to protect our natural resources is the strict enforcement of environmental laws. I urge all unit commanders and fellow eco-warriors to be relentless in our campaign against illegal logging activities and other violators of environmental laws,” said Hernia.

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JPV