Amid intensifying climate threats and declining forest cover, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday, March 21, launched its “Forests for Life: 5M Trees by 2028” program, a nationwide reforestation drive aimed at restoring degraded lands and building the country’s resilience to natural disasters.
The DENR seeks to plant five million trees across key provinces over the next four years to sequester an estimated 3.5 million tons of carbon by 2038.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga underscored that the program is a crucial component of the country’s climate adaptation strategy.
“The restoration of our forests is an urgent climate action strategy,” she said. “Enhancing reforestation in priority areas will secure water supply and fortify the country’s defenses against flooding and landslides.”
She noted that the initiative also aligns with efforts to expand mangrove forests and coastal greenbelts, which serve as natural buffers against storm surges and sea-level rise.
The DENR stated that the program will kick off this year in Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. The provinces were selected for their ecological vulnerability and need for forest rehabilitation.
“So the five provinces, pinili natin iyan (we selected those) because of their critical landscapes and the need for forest management in those areas,” lawyer Ray Thomas F. Kabigting, the assistant director of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB), said in an ambush interview.
“[It] doesn’t mean that the other parts of the country are not in need of forest management, kaya lang ito ang gusto nating tutukan dahil gusto natin palakasin pa ang ating reforestation at rehabilitation diyan (that’s why we focus on this is because we want to strengthen our reforestation and rehabilitation in those areas),” he added.
Kabigting cited desertification in Ilocos Norte, and the loss of endemic species habitats in Leyte and Bukidnon as urgent reasons for targeting these areas.
He noted that the release of Philippine eagles in Leyte last year further emphasized the need for habitat restoration.
The FMB noted that the Philippines has about 15 million hectares (ha) of forestland, but only 7.2 million ha are currently covered with forests.
“We want to increase and cover as much forestland with forest as possible,” Kabigting said. “Right now, we are at seven million, we want to make it up to 10 [million], that is the target.”
While the five million trees target won’t be enough to close the gap, Kabigting said it will contribute significantly.
“It can be a good start to increase [forest cover] by three million para naman tumaas at makadagdag sa ating forest cover ngayon (to increase our forest cover),” he said, adding that with current commitments, the DENR expects to exceed its 8,000-hectare planting target.
Each tree under the program, Kabigting said, is budgeted at P100, covering seedling production, watering, fertilization, and maintenance for up to three years.
“Iyong P100 per tree ay seedling, pagtubig na, paglagay ng fertilizer, at pag-maintain na (The P100 per tree covers the seedling, watering, application of fertilizer, and maintenance),” Kabigting explained.
“Kung gusto natin pahabain ‘yung protection and rehabilitation program, dadagdag po doon sa P100 (If we want to extend the protection and rehabilitation program, additional costs will be added on top of the P100).”
The DENR stated that the program follows a whole-of-society approach, enlisting support from public and private sectors, local government units, civil society, and international partners. Stakeholders will contribute funding, technical expertise, monitoring systems, and research support to sustain the program.
As part of the broader Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP), the DENR also seeks to establish 15,508 hectares of new plantations, produce 7.88 million seedlings, and maintain 44,861 hectares of reforested land.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who attended the launch, praised the program’s inclusive and science-based approach.
“Congratulations, Secretary Toni and to your team, it’s a beautiful project, and I think how it differs from previous efforts of greening is it incorporates science and you have solicited the involvement of the private and public sector—even international partners,” Angara said.
“Definitely, there’s a long way to go in terms of instilling environmental consciousness in our students,” he added.
“Our forests and watersheds are our first line of defense against climate change,” Loyzaga stressed in response.
“Through science-driven policies, advanced technologies, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, we are transforming the idea of climate resilience into reality,” she concluded.