The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched a multi-sectoral partnership to rehabilitate 30 hectares of degraded upland forest in Sitio Daing, Barangay Duale, aiming to boost local biodiversity and climate resilience.
The five-year initiative, dubbed the “Puno ng Buhay-Limay Reforestation Project,” was formalized through an agreement between the DENR, the provincial government of Bataan, the municipal government of Limay, Petron Foundation Inc., and the local farmers’ group Samahang Magsasaka sa Kagubatan Limay Bataan, Inc. (SAMASAKA).
Under the partnership, the site will be transformed through a community-led approach. Plans include planting native and fruit-bearing trees, bamboo, and timber species.
The project area falls within SAMASAKA’s Community-Based Forest Management area, ensuring that local residents are directly involved in the restoration and benefit from sustainable livelihood opportunities.
DENR Secretary Rafael Lotilla emphasized that the project’s success hinges on the collective commitment of all stakeholders. “This initiative delivers measurable results in protecting vital watersheds and contributing to carbon sequestration,” Lotilla said.
Petron General Manager and Chairperson Lubin Nepomoceno stated that the project is expected to significantly improve groundwater recharge in the province.
He noted that the partnership reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship in the region.
The project aligns with the government’s National Greening Program under Executive Order No. 192, which mandates the rehabilitation of denuded forestlands to combat climate change and protect the country’s natural resources.