At least 400 seedlings of endemic trees will be planted in San Remigio town on Thursday to replace those which failed to survive during the last-tree planting event held during the Earth Day celebration last April 22.

The tree-planting event in Antique province is part of the Environment Month celebration on June 8 with various government agencies expected to join the simultaneous nationwide activity.

“We have prepared 400 seedlings of various endemic species that will be planted,” said Mirza Samillano, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Antique Development Management Officer V and chief of the Technical Services Division, in an interview on Tuesday.

Seedlings of narra (Pterocarpus indicus), kamagong (Diospyros discolor), and Palawan cherry will be planted at their National Greening Program (NGP) site in Barangay Osorio 2, San Remigio.

Fruit trees, narra, and other trees valued as sources of lumber or timber thrive in the 150-hectare NGP site in San Remigio since 2014.

“The trees to be planted during the activity tomorrow, June 8, is intended to replace those previously planted seedlings that did not survive in the area,” Samillano said.

Some of the seedlings did not survive or had stunted growth due to the presence of stray animals and grassfires, among others.

Also on their list of activities for the month-long celebration are Coral Triangle Initiative Day with a coastal cleanup activity at Barangay Funda-Dalipe on June 9, and Family Day and the launching of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) exhibit of various local products on June 20. (PNA)