On planting trees in school campuses

(Published on 15 September 2008 in Zamboanga Today.)

As the school year began, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus issued an order directing schools offering basic education to plant trees within their campuses as part of the department's effort to lessen the effects of global warming.

When Arbor Day was observed by the entire country, a number of schools here in the city participated with the tree-planting activity, however, there were specified areas outside the skirts of the city's commercial area.

School principals however commented that in some campuses, especially in private school campuses, there was "not much area for tree planting."

Perhaps school heads should consider that Lapus could not have meant mass tree planting. An additional two or three trees within every school campus here in Zamboanga City would not at all hurt. In fact, this effort would do well for our environment--if not help minimize the flooding problems we have in the city.

It would be commendable if Councilor Rudy Lim, chairman of the education committee in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, could also contribute something towards the enforcement of this directive. Lim has been very busy attending to the city government's efforts in enhancing the education sector, and this should also be acknowledged.

But being an environmentalist himself, Councilor LIm needs to be reminded that he could be a strong positive influence to school heads to enforce the directive and ensure that at least two trees would be planted in every school campus in Asia's Latin City. (Frencie L. Carreon)