The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will plant approximately 690,000 trees starting this July in key watersheds in Pampanga and Cavite as part of the Greening Program of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project.
The tree planting sites include Sapangbato in Angeles City and Sacobia in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, as well as Maragondon in Cavite. The initiative is in line with the directive of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure climate protection measures are integrated into major infrastructure projects.
Transportation Secretary Jaime “Banoy” Bautista Lopez approved the activity as part of the NSCR Greening Program, emphasizing that environmental protection must go hand in hand with the completion of large-scale transport developments. He said the planting of trees will offset those removed during project construction.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right of Way and Site Acquisition IC Calaguas conducted an ocular inspection of the proposed greening sites on February 27, together with representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc.
Under a Tree Cutting Permit issued by the DENR for the NSCR Calamba Extension Project, the DOTr is mandated to implement a greening program to mitigate environmental impact and preserve natural resources.
Since 2024, the DOTr has targeted the planting of 1.2 million seedlings across 18 sites in Bulacan and Pampanga. The program covers seedling procurement and delivery, plantation establishment, maintenance and protection, validation activities, and project management.
The 546-hectare Sapangbato Watershed plays a crucial role in flood prevention and water supply for Angeles City, while the protected Sacobia Watershed serves as the primary watershed of Pampanga province.
The agency has also planted around 300,000 trees in Barangays Ayala and Turu in Magalang, in partnership with local farmers’ organizations.
Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson expressed full support for the NSCR project, noting that it will provide faster transportation while the tree planting initiatives will help mitigate flooding and improve environmental conditions for future generations.
