It is part of the 1.2 million trees that will be planted across 18 sites covered by a greening program in tandem with the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), it will plant around 690,000 trees in July 2026 at the watersheds identified for the NSCR Greening Program in Angeles City; Mabalacat City, Pampanga; and Maragondon, Cavite.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, who approved the tree-planting activities on those three sites, noted: “Kaakibat ng pagku-kumpleto natin ng konstruksyon ng mga malalaking proyektong pang-transporyasyon ay ang responsibilidad nating protektahan ang kalikasan.”
“Magtatanim tayo ng mga puno bilang kapalit ng naputol na mga puno bunga ng pagtatayo ng mga naturang proyekto,” he added.
Meanwhile, in line with the activity, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right of Way and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas conducted an ocular visit at the two proposed greening sites on Friday, February 27.
During which, she was joined by representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the people’s organization Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI).
With a Tree Cutting Permit for the NSCR Calamba Extension Project issued by the DENR, the transport agency has been mandated to implement a Greening Program to mitigate the environmental or ecological impact of tree cutting during the construction phase, while preserving natural resources.
Since 2024, the DOTr has been targeting to plant a total of 1.2 million seedlings in 18 sites across Bulacan and Pampanga as part of the Greening Program for NSCR.
The initiative, according to Calaguas, involves seedling procurement and delivery, plantation establishment, maintenance and protection, validation activities, and project management and supervision.
The 546-hectare Barangay Sapangbato is covered by the Sapangbato Watershed, while the protected Sacobia Watershed serves as the primary watershed for the entire province of Pampanga, both of which a re crucial for preventing flooding and ensuring a reliable source of clean water for Angeles City,
Moreover, the Sapangbato and Sacobia watersheds are on top of DOTr’s existing sites in Magalang and Arayat where the agency already planted around 300,000 trees in Barangays Ayala and Turu in Magalang—in partnership with the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Mataas na Lupa, Inc. and La Paz Turu Upland Farmers Association.
Magalang Mayor Malu Lacson, who joined the inspection at Mt. Arayat National Park, said “Malaking tulong ito sa ating kalikasan lalo na sa flood mitigation, mas preskong hangin, magandang kalikasan para sa susunod na henerasyon.“
The local chief executive added, “Buo ang suporta namin sa NSCR dahil mabibigyan ng kaginhawaan ang motorista kumbaga hindi na sila magtatagal sa kalasada kung may tren na maaasahan.”