Legazpi City – A special environmental task force aptly named Guardians of Nature, and dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Albay’s healthful environment, was launched here recently. Chaired by Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda, the Task Force includes as officers and members the top officers in Albay of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and all schools in the province led by the Bicol University.

Among the MOA signatories aside from Salceda, were DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, CIRCA Director Nong Ragasa and Col. Marlou Salazar, commanding officer of the 901st Philippine Army Brigade in the region.

The Task Force, Salceda said, initially focuses its attention on tree planting and cleaning up of rivers and water canals. This early, he added, the group has already planted over 54,000 tree seedlings with some 10,000 volunteers having participated in the activity.

The Albay governor pointed out that the Task Force’s initiatives directly address serious climate change concerns and are intended to help ensure that the “next generation will have more resources, safer homes and safer environment.”

Fragada explained Task Force Guardians of Nature and its activities are pilot projects started in Albay and may be replicated in other parts of the country. The Task Force, he added, aims to mobilize all state agencies and private sector organizations as well as individual citizens in caring for nature and the environment.

Fragada said the Task Force will likely be involved in the multi-million peso DENR Mangrove Reforestation Project for which P6 million have already been committed since 2008, and the P170-million Mangrove Protection Project of the Albay Provincial Government.

Source: Albay Province Official Website