ANDA—This small island town in the southwestern tip of Pangasinan, with a population of only 40,000, has planted 700,000 mahogany seedlings over the last two years- a feat that many politicians and environmentalists can learn from.

Mayor Nestor Pulido, who has been at the forefront of this initiative, has himself produced 1.7 million mahogany seedlings, out of which 700,000 were planted across the 18 barangays in his town.

He started this project in 2005 producing some 300,000 seedlings initially.

The seedlings, which cost about P5 each in the market, are given free to students and residents for their economic benefit and as a means of protecting their island’s environment.

Mahogany is a high value tree that sells for P10,000 to P20,000 each when fully grown.

“You can use that money when you reach college or if you get married,” the mayor told his young constituents.

First graders were given 20 seedlings each last year while each household was given 30.

Before he started with his project, Pulido said he was afraid the people might not be receptive and would not cooperative but he was proven wrong when they enthusiastically supported it.

He said he thought of the project because this town’s soil is made mostly of limestone which can easily erode.

“If we don’t do this, our town might become part of the 100 Islands due to erosion,” he always tells the people.

The mahogany project is also intended to replenish the trees cut by the people who use the timber in salt making.

A farmer at heart, Pulido spends his own money just for the love of planting and he asks his own house helpers, including the casual employees of the municipal government to help out in order to maximize the output of the project.

The seedlings are planted in his own sprawling backyard and in the town nursery.

“It’s our own way of helping Mother Nature because of the worsening global warming problem,” said Pulido who has been undertaking the project with the help of his wife, first district Board Member Alice Pulido who chairs the Committee on Environment in the provincial board.

 Aside from mahogany, the mayor also plants cashew and jackfruits which he distributes to his constituents.—EVA

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