Contractors with flood-control projects funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will now be required to plant more trees, in addition to the mandatory Tree Replacement Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan recently signed Department Order (DO) No. 238, series of 2022, mandating implementing offices nationwide to plant 1,000 seedling/trees for every flood-control project with at least P5 million contract amount, and additional 1,000 seedlings/trees for every added P5 million in the contract, or fraction thereafter.
“This policy is pursuant to an instruction from President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos to address deforestation nationwide,” said Secretary Bonoan.
The expenses for the planting activity will be included by concerned DPWH implementing offices in the preparation of Program of Works (POW) of every flood-control project.
Specific locations of the tree planting activities will be identified in coordination with local government units and the DENR Community or Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO/PENRO) concerned. Tree species will also be determined in coordination with DENR CENRO/PENRO.
Based on existing laws, tree planting activities are undertaken in open, degraded, and denuded forestlands, protected areas and mangroves, ancestral domain lands, and civil and military reservations among others.
Trees planted shall be turned-over to the concerned LGUs for their protection, maintenance, and conservation.
