House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and North Luzon Expressway Corporation Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan on Wednesday led the planting of bougainvillea along the NLEX median area here yesterday.
This planting activity aims to bring an additional 62,000 bougainvillea saplings until next year at the median area spanning 23 kilometers from City of San Fernando to Balagtas, Bulacan.
Dubbed as “Greening the NLEx”, the activity is aligned with the company’s commitment to build a better environment.
The planting of bougainvillea saplings was spearheaded by Arroyo, Pangilinan, MPIC President Jose Ma. K. Lim, Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda, and Metro Pacific Tollways and NLEX Corporation President Rodrigo E. Franco.
–Photo by Marna Dagumboy – Del Rosario
Also in attendance are NLEX Corporation Board Directors Levy Laus and Arlyn Villanueva, NLEX Corporation SVP for Tollways Development and Engineering Raul Ignacio, and NLEX Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao.
Bougainvilleas have been a steady sight at the NLEX especially during summer when they are in full bloom. Aside from enhancing the road’s aesthetics, they also contribute to cleaner air and healthier ecology along the expressway by reducing carbon emissions from vehicles. These bougainvilleas will likewise serve as glare protection for motorists to improve road safety.
“We, at MPTC, have been active in planting trees and flowers in the plantable areas of our expressways and encourage green practices in our operations,” said MPTC and NLEX Corporation President Rodrigo Franco.
The “Greening the NLEX” program, which started in NLEX in 2006, and later adopted in SCTEX, was launched to mitigate the effects of global warming and environmental imbalance. It is being supported and participated by companies under the MVP Group as well other public and private organizations.
“Environmental awareness is always at the forefront of our CSR activities that’s why MPIC-led companies go beyond the business and invest in socially relevant projects that will benefit our communities,” MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan noted.
For her part, the House Speaker expressed appreciation for the program, saying, “We are grateful for the support of our private partners in greening Pampanga. These bougainvilleas will not only add color to our province, but also help in caring for the environment and people’s well-being.”
To date, more than a hundred trees such as dita, narra, banaba, agoho, mahogany, balacat, have been planted by NLEX Corporation volunteers along NLEX-SCTEX and other parts of Central Luzon.