MANILA, Philippines - Some 6,000 seedlings of ylang-ylang will be planted in 22 hectares of mountainous land in the boundaries of Bongabong and Roxas municipalities in Oriental Mindoro, said local agriculturist Celso Dimapilis, provincial president of local non-government organization Sandugo, with the support of GMAC (Give More for Action and Charity) Foundation headed by Manny T. Mas, Jr.
Ylang-ylang, or cananga odorata var genuine, is native to the Philippines and Indonesia and normally grows to about 12 meters. Extracted perfumed of the ylang-ylang reportedly costs about $4,000 per liter.
Ylang-ylang trees will be planted in lieu of forest or timber trees in order to preserve the forest area to address the national government’s trust of employment generation, soil preservation, environmental protection and sustainable economic development.