While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) event started off with a declaration to plant ‘5 Million Trees by 2028’ in six designated areas spread across the country; before the assembled guests finished their lunch, what we saw flashing on the LED screen was how the new pledge was for 10 Million Trees by 2028. If ever you needed proof that public-private partnerships (PPP) are an effective means to get things done, leave it to DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga to show us the way to achieve that, in her own style.

Bataan, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Ilocos Norte, Rizal, and Leyte are the identified priority areas for this initiative; that aims to increase our forest cover, address deforestation, and advance our efforts in Sustainability and climate change. Working with NGO’s, the private sector, and other stakeholders, the lunch became an outpouring of support for the DENR’s initiative, and testament to the drawing power of Sec. Toni in making several entities rally around her cause.

A cursory glance around the Peninsula Rigodon ballroom proved just how effective Sec. Toni can be, as almost all the major players of Philippine Industry and Commerce were represented, and it was the CEO’s and Presidents who had shown up to ‘break bread’ with the Secretary. Nice, as environmental action and forest cover may not seem to be of their utmost priority; but here they were, pledging their respective corporate programs for planting trees.