DEL CARMEN, SURIGAO DEL NORTE. Members of KAMAMANA, with the help of OFT and the local government, are more enabled to preserve their mangrove forests from illegal cutting and fishing.
In communities where forests mean food, water, and protection, reforestation is no longer just an environmental goal—it is a lifeline. Across the Philippines, One Meralco Foundation’s (OMF) One For Trees (OFT) program is proving that restoring nature can also restore livelihoods, dignity, and hope—one community, one forest at a time.
In Ibajay, Aklan, Retchie Sacapaño’s story mirrors this transformation. What used to be a familiar mangrove backdrop from her childhood has become the center of her life’s work. As part of the Bugtongbato Fisherfolk Association, she now helps lead efforts to grow and protect mangrove forests—planting tens of thousands of seedlings while guiding visitors on why these ecosystems matter. Through OFT, their work has turned once-barren coastal areas into thriving habitats that support both marine life and local income.
The scale of the initiative is just as compelling as its stories. Since 2019, OFT has planted over 3 million trees in 36 sites nationwide, with a survival rate reaching 92%—a testament not just to planting, but to consistent care. At the heart of this success are nearly 2,500 tree farmers who serve as long-term stewards, ensuring that every seedling has a chance to grow into something enduring.
Aklanon Retchie Sacapaño is part of the community in charge of growing the mangrove forest in Ibajay, Aklan with the help of OMF’s One For Trees.
Beyond the coastlines, the program is reshaping upland communities as well. In the Taguibo Watershed in Butuan City, members of the Manobo tribe are helping restore forests that sustain their daily lives. With support from OFT and local partners, agroforestry has opened new income streams while reviving a watershed that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of residents. What was once threatened by degradation is now being rebuilt through local leadership and shared responsibility.
Nature’s value becomes even clearer in times of crisis. When Super Typhoon Odette struck Surigao del Norte, communities in Del Carmen witnessed how restored mangroves could soften the blow of extreme weather. These natural barriers, rebuilt through years of collective effort, helped shield lives and homes—demonstrating that environmental protection is also disaster preparedness. Today, the area stands recognized globally as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, marking a remarkable turnaround from its past.
Meanwhile, in the Sierra Madre, reforestation efforts are reinforcing one of the country’s most critical natural defenses. Thousands of volunteers, alongside local organizations, are helping rebuild forest cover that protects Luzon from powerful typhoons. Each tree planted contributes to strengthening this vast mountain range—turning individual acts of volunteerism into a nationwide buffer against climate risks.
What sets One For Trees apart is its understanding that sustainability begins with people. By aligning environmental restoration with livelihood opportunities—from eco-tourism to agroforestry—the program ensures that communities are not just participants, but long-term partners. The result is a model where forests are protected not by policy alone, but by the people who depend on them most.
For Retchie and countless others, the mission continues week after week—checking on seedlings, nurturing growth, and expanding the forest footprint. It is quiet, consistent work, but its impact is anything but small.
Because in every tree planted lies something bigger than growth: a future that is more secure, more resilient, and deeply rooted in collective action.