CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) -- Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson Junie E Cua assured Quirino province will always be committed to ensure the sustainability and viability of watersheds as he expressed his pleasure to join the One Movement, One Million Trees for Sierra Madre Mountain Range believing that this drive aims to unite the nation.

Cua, who was formerly the governor and representative, stressed the importance of taking care of the Sierra Madre as it serves as watershed area for the whole Cagayan Valley region.

“Quirino happens to be in the heart of this region, the watershed of the entire valley, along with Nueva Vizcaya. With the Magat River, we supply the water requirements of the entire valley. So that's how critical the role of Sierra Madre is in the entire region,” PCSO Chairperson Cua said, as he expressed pleasure and gratitude that there are people  who have the determination, the heart and the courage to initiate the movement.

Cua, who is now a grandfather of 17, said he likes his grandchildren to enjoy the wonders of nature and he thanked the movement  for finding ways and means to restore the beauty of nature for the younger generation.

Meanwhile, Gov. Dakila Carlo E. Cua, who also chairs the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, expressed strong support for the protection of Sierra Madre.

Parts of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. (Images by DENR 2) 

He even urged the provinces along the Sierra Madre Mountain range to take the lead in building their own green walls to protect them from future weather disturbances.

Gov. Cua also reiterated his call to his neighboring provinces such as Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quezon to put policies in place for the protection of the Sierra Madre Mountain.

The ULAP chief said the realization of how Super Typhoon Karding affect the environment and the economy and how Sierra Madre Mountain range shielded Luzon against the worst effects of the typhoon is nothing new but it’s more on the urgency of collective action, how all stakeholders, local governments together with national government and private stakeholders can bond together against climate change.

The One Movement, One Million Trees for Sierra Madre Mountain Range was recently launched in the province by the One Movement Inc. (OMI), together with the provincial government through the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office (PNREO).

The event which was held at the Forestry 101 Building in Quirino was participated by 500 individuals from OMI and from the different offices of the provincial government and national government agencies.(OTB/TCB/PIA-QUIRINO)