Posted on 01/17/2021 6:17:11 PM PST by marshmallow
Flood-stricken diocese partners with government and civic groups in reforestation project
An archdiocese in the northern Philippines is to plant more than 1 million trees using government-donated saplings in a reforestation project in response to two super typhoons that ravaged Cagayan province late last year.
In a project called Missio 500, organizers in Tuguegarao Archdiocese are looking for churchgoers to plant the trees in 500 days.
“Missio 500 is an ecology initiative that aims to plant 500 trees per day in Tuguegarao Archdiocese together with its suffragan dioceses, namely Ilagan, Bayombong, Tabuk and Batanes. These dioceses suffered great floods during the typhoons in 2020,” the archdiocese said on social media.
Super typhoons Goni and Vamco left at least 12 dead and submerged hundreds of houses in the province in muddy water caused by continuous heavy rains.
The archdiocese said the tree came from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which would also send representatives for the tree planting.
“Our target is to plant at least 1.25 million trees by early next year. The 500 is also a significant number because the Philippines is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the archipelago,” said Tuguegarao Archbishop Ricardo Baccay in a recent homily.
Archbishop Baccay said typhoons were not man-made but floods were, often caused by man’s abuse of the environment. He cited deforestation in his diocese as a particular problem.
Mayor Cristina Antonio of Alcala, a town in the province, said severe flooding was brought by a confluence of factors.
“From July to September 2020, our native trees that normally retained soil and held water were stripped from our mountains and slopes … there is also illegal logging,” she said in an interview late last year.
Antonio believed flooding could be solved through church and government efforts. “This.....
(Excerpt) Read more at ucanews.com ...
how about instead you feed and provide healthcare for 1.2 million filipinos?
Bishop Danilo Ulep of Batanes also expressed his diocese’s commitment to the project.
“May this project intensify and strengthen our advocacy to protect God’s creation and heal the wounds of Mother Earth for sustainable development of our communities,” he said in a radio interview.
It would have been much better if he had said, “May this project intensify and strengthen our advocacy to protect God’s creation.” full stop
There is nothing wrong in planting the trees. But what is on hearts when it is done? Now that I have judged by that standard..................ouch!
Archbishop Baccay said typhoons were not man-made ..............
That at least is a refreshing bit of truth, unlike...................
how about instead you feed and provide healthcare for 1.2 million filipinos?
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It was the massive deforestation that absolutely devastated Cagayan Province after illegal Chinese Communist mining destroyed the watershed there.
Feeding and healthcare? PhilHealth is corrupt as hell, and Barangay (neighborhood) officials pocket most of the aid money earmarked for food.
“how about instead you feed and provide healthcare for 1.2 million filipinos?”
It would never get to them.
They need to kill about 1.2 million criminals and terrorists.
Years ago, the folks did a Middle East tour. While in Turkey, the tour bus stopped at a area of reforestation.
The tourist were encouraged to buy saplings from a vendor on site and plant the trees on a hillside.
When the tour group was headed back to the bus, Dad held back and looked over the ridge...natives were pulling up the saplings they just planted.
They already provide food and healthcare for more filipinos.
And this is saplings provided by the government. Note that more trees actually will help the filipinos more - wood, and also prevent more soil slipping to the sea
one of the major reasons for landslides is that the hardwood trees have been cut down and the denuded slopes can result in mudslides when typhoons or heavy rains hit.
Cutting trees is illegal, but all it takes is a “gift” to the local politician and voila, no problem.
Much of this lumber is exported; it is almost impossible to buy new hardwood here; it is illegal to sell it..(we had to buy used hard wood for our door, and use plywood for most repairs).
So yes, there is a great need for replanting trees.
However, if the Church started excommunicating corrupt politicians who take bribes to look the other way when this is done, it might even help the locals more.
The locals often are poor so see logging as a way to earn money. Paying them to plant trees is a good alternative.
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