CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PRO Mimaropa) -- Police Regional Office Mimaropa Director Police Brigadier General Sidney Sulta Hernia targets to plant at least 1 million seedlings of trees in the entire region by the end of 2022.

The police eco-warriors’ chief said the endeavor will involve all police units of PRO MIMAROPA comprised of five Police Provincial Offices, one City Police Office, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and the Regional Headquarters.

“They are all tasked to plant a total of 572,976 seedlings by December 2022, or 95,496 seedlings per month within a period of 5 months,” PBGen Hernia said.

At present, PRO MIMAROPA already planted 427,024 seedlings of fruit and non-fruit-bearing trees in active partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and various stakeholders in the entire region, based on the report from the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division (RCADD).

“Aside from intensifying our tree-planting efforts, we will also be more aggressive in our campaign against illegal logging activities and violations of the environmental laws”, PBGen Hernia stressed.

Records from the Regional Operations Division revealed that PRO MIMAROPA had accomplished a total of 188 police operations which resulted in the arrest of 195 personalities and confiscation of 39,313.80 board feet of illegally cut lumbers worth Php1,485,022.64 since January this year.

“Part of our efforts to protect our natural resources is the strict enforcement of the environmental laws. I urge all unit commanders and fellow eco-warriors to be relentless in our campaign against illegal logging activities and other violators of environmental laws”, PBGen Hernia continued. (PR)