India, March 3 -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to plant 1.2 million trees in the next five years to support watersheds and other key areas surrounding the North - South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.

In a message to reporters, DOTr Assistant Secretary IC Calaguas said the NSCR Greening Program has a budget of PHP14 million that will be used to purchase seedlings and pay for the plants' maintenance for five years.

The project is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to ensure climate protection initiatives are in place in areas affected by big-ticket transport projects.

The greening program involves seedling procurement and delivery, plantation establishment, maintenance and protection, validation...