As the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) trains its sights on the protection, preservation and management of the environment, it commends its partners from the private sector, academe, civil society, and other national government agencies for their contributions to the government’s various environmental programs and projects.
At the recently concluded Stakeholders and Partners Forum with the theme “Environmental Partnership for Sustainable Future” held at the Park Inn by Radisson in Quezon City, these program and project partners were awarded plaques of recognition “for their invaluable support to the programs, projects and activities of the DENR National Capital Region.”
Among those recognized was the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI), a non-stock, non-profit organization incorporated on March 16, 2021.
Its primary objective is to ensure the sustainability of the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC), a watershed rehabilitation program of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). MTFI is the non-government partner organization of MWSS in the implementation of the AMTC.
AMTC surpassed its target of five million trees planted in five years. The MTFI targets to plant 10 million more trees by 2030. It manages the Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learning Center, the center of AMTC programs and initiatives, situated inside the La Mesa Watershed compound.
The award was received by MTFI President and Executive Director Melandrew T. Velasco who said that the 10-million more trees target is very doable.
At the forum, DENR Regional Executive Director-NCR Jacqueline A. Caancan presented DENR-NCR’s program for 2023 and asked for the continued support of the program partners to ensure a climate resilient and sustainable Metropolitan Manila. The forum utilized hashtags #NurturingCitiesForASustainableFuture #TayoAngKalikasan.
DENR Undersecretary of Field Operations – Luzon, Visayas and Environment Juan Miguel Cuna delivered the keynote message. Other guests of honor were Senator Cynthia Villar, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change. Also present were DENR NCR Assistant Regional Directors Manuel T. Escasura (Management Services) and Engr. Ignacio R. Almira, Jr. (Technical Services), and EMB-NCR Regional Director Michael Drake P. Matias.