HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE
Attended a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lunch event last week, and it was announced as a “Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028” initiative. As DENR Secretary Maria Antonia ‘Toni’ Yulo-Loyzaga explained, it was about bringing together LGUs, NGOs, private companies, and stakeholders to address deforestation, find ways to increase our forest cover, and stimulate our response to climate change and environment-related sustainability issues.
With six identified priority areas — Bataan, Bukidnon, Lanao Del Norte, Ilocos Norte, Rizal, and Leyte — the lunch at the Peninsula’s Rigodon Ballroom saw a generous outpouring of support from diverse sectors, corporations, and individuals. While it was generally reported by media from an output- or PR-release angle; what struck me—sitting at a table behind our DENR secretary and special guest, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara—was how this initiative was also a testimonial to the possibilities of Public-Private Partnerships. And secondly, to the power of personality—this was Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga asking us to plant trees, and look who showed up to represent their respective companies: only the captains of industry and commerce, the CEOs and presidents of companies that drive our stock exchange.
A third observation was that if you give people the right cause and offer them the mechanisms to truly “move the needle” and make a positive impact, people can—and will—favorably respond. Planting trees does not lead to instant gratification, you don’t see immediate results. We’re talking about Philippine flora and supporting long term biodiversity; there are no “cute” or anthropomorphized animals to turn into mascots for the cause. But in the name of climate change and improving our forest cover, pledges were being made. In fact, before the lunch was over, the event had proven so succesful that it was announced we were now aiming for 10 million trees by 2028.
Now let’s not jump the gun, count our chickens before they hatch, or over-simplify the results of a day of pledging. I’ve often said it’s so easy to pledge, but who will check if you’ve acted on the pledge afterwards? The actual planting of the 10 million trees is in itself going to be a gargantuan effort, and I understand DENR will be doing the monitoring. DENR will also be recommending what kind of trees should be planted and where. Then there is the issue of survival rates —planting 10 million trees does not automatically mean 10 million new trees will be standing years from now.
What was entertaining was listening to DepEd Sec. Angara, who did not know he was supposed to give a speech. Entertaining, because he ingeniously segued into his DepEd mandate and concerns. He quipped that if the people in the ballroom were ready to support and commit funds to tree planting, he was welcoming any and all contributions to classrooms – and promised to convert the students and teachers to tree planting volunteers, and majorly contributing to the cause of the lunch that day.
Manny Pangilinan joked that, given the number of trees pledged, this was the most expensive lunch he had ever been invited to, but also had to pay for. Federico “Piki” Lopez spoke about his late father’s legacy and importance of saving endemic endangered species of Philippine flora. Ramon Ang, in true form, kept his speech short, committing San Miguel Corporation to planting more trees than ever, in support of the DENR campaign. Sabin Aboitiz echoed these sentiments of full-fledged support, connecting the initiative to their ongoing A-Park, and Green Carbon projects.
As a kick-off to this DENR initiative, it would be hard to ask for a better, more enthusiastic response – doubling the number of trees in the course of a single lunch is the proverbial “good kind of problem.” So I congratulate the DENR and Secretary Toni for making believers of us all—for turning the ballroom into a conclave of eco-warriors, and for putting Philippine flora and its survival and proliferation in the spotlight.