"You-made"

I came across an interview of the late former US president Ronald Reagan where he said, "People look to the government to solve their problems, but the problem is the government is the problem."

- CITO BELTRAN

Like many leaders who have sat in office and in power, Reagan knew too well that government cannot solve the problem of humanity or nations. Only "humans can really help humans" and while acting individually, when done so in numbers, we cause change and solve problems.

For instance, I have not heard of a really organized, well-led, well-funded movement of thousands of people working at "regreening," making "green corridors" and urban reforestation in Metro Manila or the Philippines.

We have laws, we have government and private sector spurts and brush fire movements (ningas cogon) that come and go. But no “landmark” samples of human-made, "so big it can't be ignored" projects.

Yes, we have the Ninoy Aquino Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, but that has not really expanded or significantly impacted urban regreening. There is the Arroceros Park that fights for its life. There is even the two-kilometer Bilar-man made forest of Bohol, originally intended as reforestation and erosion control and has now become a tourist attraction, but the actual "movements" simply are few and far in between.

There are, to be fair, a handful of committed regreening advocates and NGOs. But we have not elicited the admiration and commitment of millions of Filipinos. But there is hope and this is what we should all work on: recognizing, acknowledging any and all efforts and projects that contribute to the regreening of Metro Manila, the country and promoting such activities.