BUKIDNON — On May 22, 2023, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheaded the project orientation and seeds balls-making workshop in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. The event marked the beginning of the 3-day activity for seed ball making. This will be the innovative technology to be fed to a modern drone to plant a 4-hectare deforested area in Mt. Kalatungan Range, Pangantucan, Bukidnon.

The event was attended by 245 participants coming from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Area Management Board, Local Government Unit of Pangantucan, Talaandig Community, and Pangantucan Bukidnon Community College.

The training session, which is part of the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) project, sought to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills in valuing the forests and to take part in the innovative planting method.

Seed balls consist of endemic seeds coated with a mixture of soil and organic manure to enhance germination and growth. The project aims to produce and disperse 12,000 seed balls with the application of a modern drone planting method. This approach not only maximizes the reforestation efforts but also promotes technologies that reduce the need for manual labor and speed up the overall process.

Learn more here: Mt. Kalatungan Reforestation – Galansiyang