News

Book on tree planting launched
by Miko Jazmine J. Mojica

Dr. Fortunato A. Battad, president emeritus, Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and chairman, Board of Agriculture, Professional Regulation Commission, launched his new book, “My Passion for Trees” on 11 June 2008 at the RET Amphitheater, CLSU, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

“This book is a documentation of my advocacy for tree planting. In this book, our collaboration with educational institutions, national government, local government units, and non-government organizations are highlighted,” said Battad, who wrote the book with his wife, Dr. Teodora Battad.

Besides CLSU, Dr. Fortunato Battad was president of numerous agricultural colleges and universities in the Philippines, namely: Benguet State University, Nueva Vizcaya State University (formerly Nueva Vizcaya State Institute of Technology), Pampanga Agricultural College, and West Visayas State University.

To write the book, Dr. Battad and his wife revisited and explored several agricultural colleges and universities in the country in which he, in one way or another, had influenced to develop an affinity towards planting trees. To emphasize his noble advocacy, he has phrased and practiced the adage, “Even if I die tomorrow, I will still plant trees today.”

Dr. Battad's book-writing project was supported by the Bureau of Agricultural Research, PhilRice, and CLSU Foundation, Inc.