Two counting: MTFI assured of continued support from partners

By Melandrew T. Velasco

TWO years after its establishment, the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. led by Chairman Emeritus Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco (ret.) and us as MTFI president and Executive Director together with representatives from institutional partners and stakeholders inaugurated on March 16, 2023 the foundation’s phase 2 projects at the La Mesa Watershed in Novaliches, Quezon City.

It was during Chiang Ching-kuo and Lee Teng-hui’s terms that Taiwan progressed rapidly at a time when the mainland was likewise opening up its economy under the legendary Deng Xiaoping after the death of Mao. Lee, an agriculturist, likewise spearheaded Taiwan’s farm modernization, establishing world-class agricultural research institutes side by side with the manufacturing growth began by Ching-kuo. In the general elections of 2000, another Taipei mayor, this time from the opposition DPP, was elected president, Chen Sui-bian.

Hounded by corruption scandals, he was later imprisoned, during which the KMT in 2008 regained power with Ma Ying-jeou, another former Taipei City mayor as president.

Then KMT’s Lee had two terms on top of his succession of Ching-kuo; DPP’s Chen had another two; KMT’s Ma had two; followed by DPP’s Tsai who will bow down in May 2024, after transitioning to her duly elected successor in January 2024, a scant nine months away.

So who are the likely presidential candidates?

Unless Foxconn billionaire Terry Go gets the nod of KMT as its official candidate, he would not proceed, and has vowed to support Mayor Hou or whoever the party chooses as standard bearer.

The occasion also marked the first anniversary of the Million Trees Nursery and Eco-Learning Center in the five-hectare area of the watershed compound leased by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to MTFI for 15 years.

The inauguration was followed by the opening of Splash Tree, a visual art exhibit that showcased the works of Janddie Castillo, known as “Master of Splash Art” for his unique art style and technique.

MWSS Administrator Cleofas delivered the welcome remarks and reported that out of the 1.7 million trees pledged in 2022 for the Annual Million Trees Challenge, 1.2 million trees have been planted. This constitutes a portion of the 10 million more trees target by 2030.

MTFI is the official NGO partner of MWSS to ensure the continuity of AMTC and expand its cov- erage throughout the country. In my speech, I spoke about the accomplishments of the Foundation for the past two years.

I shared the information that there are now 500 members of MTFI’s Green Army Brigade and the Foundation together with partner stakeholders have planted 20,000 trees inside the La Mesa Watershed area.

Other accomplishments are: the completion of the SMC Multi Center (Eddie’s Green Barn) which was inaugurated last October 23, 2022; construction and completion of new rest rooms, staff house, and green houses.

During the period, MTFI procured Philippine native trees, ornamental plants, fruit-bearing trees and vegetables.

It also undertook improvement works on the MTFI grounds and procured garden tools, wooden swing, mango table and bahay kubo and new landscaping for beautification of the area.

Representatives from institutional partners Manila Water and Manila Water Foundation, Maynilad, San Miguel Corporation, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources congratulated and reaffirmed the commitment of their respective organizations to support the advocacy of MTFI.

Manila Water President J.V. Emmanuel de Dios, Manila Water Foundation Reginald Andal and MWCI Regulatory Group Head Jo Kristine Celera formally turned over its P1-million institutional support to MTFI Chairman Rey Velasco and MTFI President Mel Velasco joined in by MWSS Chairman Vega and MWSS Administrator Cleofas.

Likewise, Maynilad President Ramoncito S. Fernandez and MWSI Corporate Communication Head Annete de Ocampo also turned P1-million institutional support. Fernandez rallied MTFI partner stakeholders to give special focus on the massive degradation of Laguna Lake which is also a vital source of water to both Maynilad and Manila Water.

DENR NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan, CESO III represented by DENR-NCR Assistant Regional Director Engr. Ignacio R. Almira Jr. commended MWSS for its efforts to protect and conserve the La Mesa Watershed through the AMTC.

“The DENR National Capital Region is pleased and thankful to have you as partner in the enrichment of one of the remaining green spaces of Metro

There is a straight line between the Taipei City Hall and the presidential palace, through the wide, tree-lined Ren-ai Boulevard. Thus it was said that whoever becomes Taipei mayor ends up in the presidency. This was broken in 2016, when the DPP fielded an economist who never held elective positions, and a lady at that, Tsai-Ing-wen, for president. This was her second try, after losing to re-electionist Ma in 2012.

Tsai won on a strong wave of anti-mainland sentiment, where Ma was perceived to be too submissive to the PRC.

Thus, KMT’s popular candidate, the charismatic Mayor Eric Chu of New Taipei City, and before that of Taoyuan, was defeated by an introvert single lady, Tsai. Tsai however is on her last year in office, completing two four-year terms.

But on her last year in office, after the Honduras defection to Beijing, Tsai upped the ante by meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a bi-partisan group of legislators last Wednesday in the Ronald Reagan Library in California, where assurance that the US stands by Taiwan’s democracy was reiterated.

Thus, the January 13, 2024 elections is keenly watched not only by China but the major powers with geo-political and economic interests in Taiwan, most keenly by the US of A and Japan.

A KMT win would likely cool down the crossstrait tensions that began when Tsai became

Manila,” Almira said. According to Almira, water security is one of the priorities of DENR. AMTC aims to rehabilitate critical watersheds that are essential in the water supply.

“For the past four years we have seen improvements in our watersheds, thanks to the Annual Million Tree Challenge, the National Greening Project, and other similar endeavors of different stakeholders,” he noted.

“DENR National Capital Region reaffirms its commitment to continue providing planting materials to the Annual Million Tree Project and assist in the validation of the planted seedlings and other

In the DPP, current vice-president Lai Chien-jen, better known by his English name William, 64 years old by the time of elections, is a current favorite.

The former premier and two-term mayor of Tainan, Lai, the son of a coal miner, is quite charismatic, and fiercely pro-independence. He is a medical doctor specializing in physical rehabilitation.

Then there is the current premier, 72-year old Chen Chien-jen, the vice-president of Tsai on her first term (2016-2020), another doctor and renowned epidemiologist who specialized at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore and was former minister of health.

A devout Roman Catholic, the deeply religious and humble Chen walks from his house daily to attend mass in the Daan district parish.

Though DPP, he is not too vocal against the mainland and could be a default candidate acceptable to the mainland over the other doctor, William Lai.

There are dark horses in the DPP stable, such as Kaohsiung Mayor Chen-Chi-mai, young at 59, another physician, or even the former premier, Su Tseng-chang, 76 come July, this time a lawyer who graduated from the National Taiwan University, and a well-rounded politician.

On the Kuomintang side, its current chairman, Eric Chu, 61, who lost to Tsai in 2016 as the KMT’s reluctant candidate, is supporting his successor as New Taipei City mayor, Hou You-yi. Hou, who will turn 66 on June 7, was director- needed interventions.”

Meanwhile, Bulacan Bulk Water Manager Edgar Dona read the speech of SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang for the anniversary celebration. SMC, which has become MTFI’s major annual donor supported the construction of the SMC Multi Purpose Center which is dedicated to former President Fidel V. Ramos.

In his speech, RSA commended MTFI for taking on “the ambitious but arduous task of planting millions of trees in critical watershed areas, including the La Mesa Watershed.”

He underscored the importance of trees. “The role of trees and forests in our lives is ba-

Polls show a close three-way race with Vicepresident William Lai of the DPP getting about 32 percent of the vote; while KMT’s Hou and TPP’s Ko are even-steven with 21 percent each. But it’s a long way to go, and the smoke has not cleared on who eventually will be in the running.

The main issue would be the future of the troubled island-nation of 23.4 million at a time of disquiet possibly leading to military conflict.

“Nobody wants war,” a prominent businessman told me, adding that “only the politicians use war as a means to spend more money, and for the West, to sell us more arms.”

A retired diplomat who I asked about the willingness of Taiwanese to fight their Chinese cousins vigorously said “I would fight!”

His wife who was with us over lunch calmly riposted, “But your sons will not.”

We should have a clearer picture of the mainland vis-à-vis Taiwan affairs after the 2024 elections. For now, the scenarios would be a series of what Filipinos call “girian.”

Meanwhile, our president has agreed to have the Americans put up transport, training, support facilities, and the pre-positioning of war materiel and supplies, as well as deploying these and personnel, in nine strategically locations in the country.

Incidentally, the modern Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan, some half an hour away by plane from Kaohsiung, was built during the time of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, completed just before Pres. Duterte won, yet was surprisingly never opened for commercial use, is now one of those sites the joint US-RP military troops will use as a new EDCA platform. Full text at www.manilastandard.net sic but commonly overlooked--or worse, ignored.

Apart from providing us valuable resources such as food and building materials, trees also protect us against land erosion and flooding.” Guest of honor MWSS Board of Trustees Chairman Atty. Elpidio Vega who was introduced by MTFI Chairman Emeritus Velasco. Tokens of appreciation were handed to all partners of MTFI on the road to 10 million more trees by 2030.

(The author is president and executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc. He is also a prolific book writer and publisher.)