Gov wages war against environment ‘destroyers’

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has waged “all out war” against “environment destroyers.”

In a message at the capitol plaza here to commemorate Environment Month, Gov. Espino encouraged all Pangasinenses to unite and work together in cleaning and greening the environment and condemn people who abuse the beauty of nature.

An environmentalist, the provincial chief executive has launched several environmental projects even during his term as Pangasinan provincial police director where he initiated the launching of Save the Lingayen Gulf (SLING) Movement and Green the Mountains Again project when he was still a congressman.

“I am proud to say that in my term, we have distributed more than five million seedlings to various schools, Rotary Clubs, non-government organizations and Local Government Units,” Espino said.

At present, the governor bared there are one million seedlings available and ready to be planted in mountainous areas of Pangasinan where sites are partly denuded and needs to be reforested to bring back the verdant environs.

Leduina Co, provincial environment and natural resources chief, lauded the governor in his initiative to produce millions of seedlings to increase forest cover in the province.

In line with the commemoration, Espino led the distribution of narra and mahogany seedlings to the Department of Education to be distributed to various schools and to the Girl Scout of the Philippines- Provincial Headquarters to improve and green their environs.