THE small steps expected to lead to giant strides in greening the newly-constructed Daang Kalikasan that connects Pangasinan to Zambales provinces have begun. Imagine palm trees, acacia mangium and a host of coconut and ylang-ylang stress lining the 54-kilometer road.

Since Daang Kalikasan was temporarily closed since Feb. 17 for the completion of the cementing of the remaining sections of the road, an ocular inspection of the 54-km stretch from Barangay Muelang in Mangatarem through Barangay Guiguis in Sta. Cruz, Zambales was already made on Feb. 29 to identify areas that would be planted to different tree species and flowering plants to green the gentle hills and pockets of forests in the area.

Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, who initiated the construction of this now famous Daang Kalikasan when he was still congressman from the Second District, was joined by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) executives led by Region 1 Assistant Regional Director Wendy Co and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Raymundo Gayo, as well as officials from Northern Cement Corporation (NCC) and Philam Life that have manifested interest to support the greening project.

The NCC has committed to donate initially 5,000 seedlings while Philam Life is also joining the advocacy by supporting the nursery and planting of seedlings.

According to Vince Cabanilla, the company’s process and environmental compliance manager, NCC has been adopting mountains in different areas, including planting different tree species in about 200 hectares of land in Sison, Pangasinan.

He said he brought their forester here to analyze the soil and determine the right kind of saplings that will be planted.

They have about 200,000 available seedlings in Sison for planting at any given time.

Bataoil, as chairman of the Provincial Advisory Council, envisioned that the greening of the areas will inspire every passersby, motorist, environmental advocate to imbibe in their hearts and minds the responsibility to protect the environment in that area by planting trees and resuscitate the lost forest”.

He said the greening of Daang Kalikasan will be a long-term project that will be added as an activity of the National Greening Program.

The group considered areas where nurseries will be established initially ahead of the planned planting season before the onset of the rainy season.

A nursery will be established where seedlings will be grown that will offer opportunities of linkages to people’s organizations accredited by the DENR for seedlings preparation and others in addition to ylang-ylang and coconut seedlings that have already been planted.

He said some palm trees, acacia mangium and other species have also been planted earlier.

A master plan will be made for the orderly planting of different species of plants, trees, timber in Daang Kalikasan for the resuscitation of the lost environment in the area.

Gullies in the area for nurseries can be established where water can be pumped up.
Based on their experience, planting ylang-ylang will already bloom with flowers in about three years only.

Bataoil also encouraged the people to plant bougainvillea cuttings that are easy to grow abundantly and bloom especially during summertime and do not need much water and care.

If Japan has its cherry blossoms, Daang Kalikasan will be planted to about 5,000 caballeros (fire trees) as it is a tourist magnet, Cabanilla said.

Bataoli expects more videos and photos will posted by bloggers, social and mainstream media and ordinary travelers on the lush green and colors that will be highlighted along Daang Kalikasan. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)

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