Build real, not virtual farms, President Benigno Aquino said yesterday as he led a tree planting program in Quezon City.

The President lamented that a big number of Filipinos are hooked on virtual farming, planting crops and raising animals on Farmville.

“The sad thing is, nowadays, many Filipinos focus their attention on a different kind of farming. If there are young people who are familiar with the words planting, plowing and harvesting, it doesn’t mean they know how to sow but because they spend a lot of time playing the online game Farmville,” Aquino said in his speech at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the launch of the National Greening Program.

Aquino said his administration is serious in strengthening programs for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.

“Sabi sa isang awitin: ang magtanim ay ‘di biro. Sang-ayon po ako dito: hindi biro ang magbungkal ng matigas na lupa, hindi biro ang yumuko at mangawit sa pagtatanim ng punla, hindi biro ang mabilad sa ilalim ng tirik na araw. Ngunit alam din po natin ang tutubong biyaya kapalit ng sipag at pagsusumikap natin; seryosong bagay ang pagtatanim dahil anumang may kaugnayan sa Inang kalikasan ay isang seryosong usapin,” he said..

Under Executive Order No. 26, the National Greening Program intends to reduce pollution and emission of greenhouse gases, protect watersheds, increase the number of mangroves and enhance food security.

Aquino said half of the 1.5 billion trees to be planted under the program will be used to replenish forests while the other half will be used in production zones to strengthen the local crop industry.

The EO requires all students, identified by the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, and all government employees to plant a minimum of 10 seedlings a year.