Golden Shower to Line South Luzon Expressway

18 November -- Like missing teeth, the conspicuous gaps of treeless patches along the stretch of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is what  a unique tree planting project  wants to fill in  with aesthetically pleasing trees like  Golden Shower (Cassia fistula), Palawan Cherry (Prunus javanica),  Balitbitan (Cynometra ramiflora)  and Caballero (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).

On Saturday, November 20^th, some 820 Golden Shower tree saplings, 200 Palawan cherry, 200 Balitbitan, and 150 Caballero seedlings will be simultaneously planted at five different “toothless” portions of the 29-kilometer highway.

The “SLEX Tree Planting” (STP) activity is a joint undertaking of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Rotary Club of Makati Rockwell (RCMR) and the South Luzon Tollways Corporation (SLTC).  It involves the planting and raising of aesthetically pleasing trees on both sides of  SLEX whose roadsides are lined with patches of acacia, mahogany, narra, and gmelina.

The Career Executive Service Board will also take part in the event as part of its 37^th Anniversary this November, with the theme “Serbisyong CESO: Pamunuan Tapat, Magaling, Wasto (Modernong Gobyerno, Makakalikasang Progreso, Makataong Pagbabago).”

DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje lauded the partnership, saying that tree planting remains one of the most important components of the country’s comprehensive strategy against climate change.

Paje also gave credit to former DENR undersecretary and now Rotary Club-Rockwell president-elect Rolando Metin who conceived the idea of continuing the greening of the SLEX.  Quoting Metin, Paje said that the choice of SLEX is “both inspirational and practical.” 

Metin also said that the use of the Golden Shower as the primary planting material for the project is “to celebrate President Aquino’s presidency” as it produces bountiful yellow flowers while the Palawan Cherry blooms with pink and white flowers.

Paje also said that having two of RCMR’s members as STC’s executives, namely SLTC safety and environment manager Allan Plete and environment and in-house forester Jonas Melendres, gives the project a distinct advantage of assured sustainability and more effective coordination of the project.

Under the partnership, the SLTC will shoulder the cost of the upkeep of the planted materials like the installation of tree guards and their care, which includes watering and removing of grasses around the saplings especially during the dry months when outbreaks of grass fires mostly originate from adjoining open grasslands outside of SLTC’s jurisdiction.

“Kadalasan gumagapang lang yung grassfires papunta sa roadsides ng SLEX. “This is why maintenance (degrassing and nurturing) of these planted trees is an integral part of our activity,” Plete said, adding that the costs for the upkeep of the planted trees are well addressed already in their logistical support in terms of planning and budgeting.

But more than their aesthetic value, Plete said the tree species to be planted on Saturday are ideal roadside trees since once they are fully-grown, they also act as wind-breakers thereby lessening the wind drag on the vehicles coming from the sides of the road.

“These future trees will contribute substantially to the safety and fuel efficiency of vehicles using SLEX, which average 180,000 vehicles daily,” Plete added.