Ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN member-states, Timor-Leste, and dialogue partners joined a tree planting activity on Aug. 9 at the Makiling Botanic Gardens in Laguna to celebrate the 58th ASEAN Day.
The event, organized by the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), was held at the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, an ASEAN Heritage Park, with the theme “Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN Future.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and ACB Executive Director Jerome Montemayor led the activity, highlighting the importance of cooperation in addressing climate and environmental challenges.
“As we plant the seedlings that will grow into robust and vigorous trees in the future, so do we plant the foundation for productive, cooperative, and meaningful engagement among ASEAN Member States and our Dialogue Partners,” Lazaro said. She added that the activity also supports the ASEAN Green Initiative, which seeks to plant 10 million native trees across the region within 10 years.
Montemayor, meanwhile, stressed the shared duty of ASEAN nations in tackling pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
“Conservation and restoration are shared responsibilities that require a whole-of-society approach… It gives us hope that the results of our current efforts will continue to grow, flourish, and help build a better world for generations to come,” he said.
Guests planted native Philippine tree species, including Bagtikan, Saplungan, and Yakal, with guidance from the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems.