Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Following a series of flooding incidents caused by recent weather disturbances, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged the private sector to join forest restoration efforts as “a strategic path toward earning carbon credits and building climate resilience.”
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla emphasized that forests are not only environmental assets but also have economic value, citing carbon credits — “a permit which allows a country or organization to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions and which can be traded if the full allowance is not used.”
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“Are we going to simply see ourselves as producers of carbon credits? Can we take a look at how we can catch or capture part of the value added?” Lotilla asked in a statement on Tuesday.
“We need not be part of the regional hub. We can see whether there is money to be made in being a [carbon credit] hub, not only for the region, but also globally,” he added.
According to Lotilla, the DENR is now refining policies and frameworks for carbon credit trading. With this, he highlighted the need for “public-private cooperation to maximize both environmental and economic outcomes.”
The DENR chief’s appeal to the private sector follows the agency’s signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Ayala Group of Companies under the Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028 program.
The program aims to plant at least five million indigenous forest trees across critical watershed areas in Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Rizal, Leyte, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte by 2028.
“The program is designed to restore ecologically critical areas, especially watersheds, using native tree species that are not meant for harvesting but for long-term forest protection. These forests will deliver lasting ecosystem services such as cleaner air and water, biodiversity conservation, and natural disaster risk reduction, while supporting the country’s commitments to global climate action,” the agency said.
“The MOU generally tasks partners to implement reforestation activities such as site preparation, seedling production, tree planting, and maintenance and protection of established plantations. If applicable, partners can use their own resources in other activities that support the program, including community and stakeholder mobilization, and information and education campaigns,” it added.
Meanwhile, the DENR said its Forest Management Bureau and concerned regional offices are mandated to:
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- Identify, assess, and designate suitable reforestation sites and provide technical assistance, permitting, compliance, and regulatory support
- Monitor and evaluate program implementation, track tree survival rates, and measure carbon sequestration
- Provide guidelines for promoting the program
- Ensure transparency by maintaining a public registry of partners
“Participation in the program offers tangible benefits for partners, including sustainability certification, potential tax incentives, employee engagement initiatives, and formal recognition in environmental reports and public platforms,” the DENR said. /jpv
