2.8 million tree seedlings planted in CV-DENR-7

TAGBILARAN CITY ,Philippines  – A total of 2,845,376 seedlings of various tree species have been planted in the entire Central Visayas with corresponding total allotment of P13.83 million.

This was bared in the report of the DENR-7 in connection with the National Greening Program of President Noynoy Aquino.

The DENR-7 report said a total of 5,443 hectares out of the targeted 5,632 hectares have been planted, or an accomplishment of 97 percent.

The greening project in this region was a success and could be considered sustainable based on indicators, such as high participation rate of the people’s organizations, private agencies aside from government agencies and local government units in planting and maintenance.

The DENR-7 said survival rate of the planted seedlings was placed at 85 percent healthy within the 3- to 5-month period of cultivation.

Negros Oriental province had the most planted tree seedlings, totaling over 1.15 million in 1.853 hectares or an accomplishment rate of 99 percent.

Cebu province came next with 945,081 seedlings in 1,957 hectares of 100 percent, followed by Bohol with 644,708 seedlings in 1,433 hectares of 92 percent, and Siquijor with 100,000 seedlings in 200 hectares of 80 percent.

Accomplishments of each province in the region were varied in terms of seeds availability, kind of materials requirement, capabilities/attitudes of participating entities, climactic condition, distance of planting sites, release of funds, mobility hauling of seedling materials, manpower requirement, planting sites within the protected areas requires indigenous species and involvement of the local government units, said the 3-page report of DENR-7.