The Green Philippine Highway Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Oriental Negros has recorded a low survival growth of the trees simultaneously planted last year.

Regional Technical Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo of the Forest Management Services of DENR-7, said the province has less than 20 percent survival of the seedlings planted from Sibulan to Mabinay

In the entire region, the survival growth was only 47 percent, or only 1,580 out of the more than 3,600 trees planted survived, because the community failed to take good care of them. The project was aimed to beautify Philippine highways to lure tourists to travel and see the tourism attractions of the country.

Meanwhile, the DENR said it is better to conduct tree-planting activities in mangrove areas because of the high survival rate there. PENR officer Antonio Cabrido said mangroves easily grow in wetlands despite the occurrence of drought or the El Niño phenomenon.

Cabrido, however, stressed there's nothing wrong with the mortality rate, as long as the people are encouraged to plant trees and replant some more to help address the global warming.

Aside from the mangroves, Cabrido said they prefer the propagation of jackfruit", a deep-rooted tree, which is good for the watershed areas, as well as mahogany.

Aside from its commercial value, such as for lumber, and for guitar making, jackfruit is also a good source of food, Cabrido said.*MA/JG

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