BAGUIO CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera (DENR-CAR) on Monday (Dec. 22) vowed to strengthen its tree planting efforts following the National Regreening Program (NGP).
In a media forum, Engr . Paquito Moreno, Regional Director of DENR-CAR reported that this year , his agency had 100 percent accomplishment on the so-called NGP.
NGP, led by the DENR, is a massive Philippine government initiative started in 2011 to reforest degraded lands, combat climate change, reduce poverty, and improve food security by planting billions of trees and involving communities and the private sector. Initially targeting 1.5 billion trees.
The program was expanded (Enhanced NGP) to cover all remaining unproductive forestlands until 2028, focusing on sustainable development, job creation, and restoring biodiversity through large-scale tree planting and management efforts.
By doing so, Moreno vowed to sustain his agency’s momentum on the said program as he spelled out some priority programs for 2026 to include – integration of traditional forest management and to tap areas for the development of renewable energy with Cordilleras being ‘watershed cradle’ of the north Luzon, sustaining major river systems.
Moreno noted that 85 percent of the region is classified as forestland, crucial for water, irrigation, and hydropower while 15 percent of its land area is alienable and disposable land.
Engr. Rosita Apilis, Chief of Planning and Management Division for her part said ‘survival rate’ of tress planted across the region was posted at 38- 45 percent based on a three-year budget and on account of a third party validation.
In 2025, the agency’s allocation on NGP based on National Expenditure Program (NEP) was P267.196 million. The amount include personnel services.
In reality, out of the P267.196 million ,only an estimated P20 million was utilized mainly in seed production, maintenance and protection mostly of Benguet pine and other tree varieties ,Apilis candidly said.
For 2026 NEP, the agency has P278.579 million for said program , focused in the Province of Abra, notably in flood-prone areas.
Though said NEP amount increased to four percent compared to the previous year (2025),however,out of the total amount, an estimated P23 million is utilized for seed production and maintenance, Apilis added.
And for 2026, the agency shall cover 865 ha of established area with 461,094 different varieties of trees to be planted.
In the Cordilleras, it was learned that it cost the government some P12 per seedling ,mostly Benguet Pine. And some P23k is spent per hectare per year.
And from 2011 to 2016, it was estimated some 500 seedlings are planted per hectare.While in 2017 and onwards average 1,667 seedlings are planted per hectare.
