DENR Region XI

DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes launched the Green Philippine Highways Project on August 1, 2006 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center along Torres St., Davao City.

On August 25, 2006, from the tip of Luzon in the North to Mindanao in the South, the Department will lead a human chain composed of various stakeholders to join a simultaneous massive national tree planting activity along the country's national highway through three main routes.

The Green Philippine Highways Project aims to connect the 2,176.40 kilometers of the Pan-Philippine Highway from Laoag City to Davao City; the 439.20 kilometers of Manila North Road from Laoag City to Manila and the 823.90 kilometers of the West Nautical Highway from Batangas City to Zamboanga Sibugay. The three routes stretch 3,439.50 kilometer network of sealed roads, expressway, interchanges, bridges and ferry services that link the three main islands of the Philippine Archipelago: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The DENR believes that environmental protection is not a monopoly of the Department but rather, a responsibility of every member of the society. To strengthen public concern and participation towards environmental protection, the DENR embarks on this project that would maximize participation of all sectors of society and the "Bayanihan" spirit of the Filipinos by establishing a green chain along the country's major highways and thoroughfares.

The national greening aims to minimize adverse environmental conditions, especially those caused by smoke-belching vehicles and air pollutants causing asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

The Project shall be adopted following the "Adopt a Street or Park Project" concept wherein the whole stretch of the highways shall be divided into multiple sections of a kilometer or more. Each section shall be awarded to an adopter who may be LGUs, NGOs, community, government agencies, business institution and civic/religious organizations for the planting, caring and maintenance.

A MOA between and among the DENR and adopters shall be forged to ensure plant survival and project sustainability.

The DENR shall provide the necessary planting materials as well as technical and other necessary assistance. The DPWH shall be tapped for hole-digging and other technical activities. On the other hand, the NGOs, LGUs, civil society, business groups and industries shall assist the DENR in partnership building, project implementation, compliance monitoring and resource mobilization.

In Region XI, DENR Regional Executive Director Ricardo L.Calderon said that a total of 126.5 kilometers of the Pan-Philippine Highway consisting of 68 kms. in Compostela Valley, 24.2 kms. Davao del Norte and 14 kms. in davao del Sur will be planted to seedlings of assorted species.