CATBALOGAN CITY — The Samar Island National Park received at least 5,000 seedlings of mahogany tree planted by a mining company doing an exploration work for possible bauxite extraction in Samar.

Marcventures Holdings Inc. community relations officer Arlene Gabon disclosed that the tree planting is part of the firm's commitment to help improve the forest cover of Samar, contribute to climate change mitigation, and provide livelihood to impoverished farmers, many of whom are engaged in slash and burn farming in the area.

"Mahogany is not only a hardwood but is also endemic in Samar," Gabon said. "The tree is also used by traditional healers for their medicinal value."

She added that the company started its tree planting program in 2020 in Concepcion village in Paranas town and it is also implementing community development projects in the 49 villages in six municipalities in Samar that are within the areas covered by MHI's mineral production sharing agreement.

MHI has two subsidiaries — Alumina Mining Phils. Inc. and Bauxite Resources Inc. doing mining exploration in 11,000 hectares of land in the towns of Paranas, Motiong, Gandara, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan and Matuguinao.

Gabon said MHI is constructing two multipurpose buildings and two potable water systems in different villages as the CPD implementation. She said the projects were identified by members of the community themselves.

The CDP fund is equivalent to 10 percent of the exploration cost.