SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES — More than 74 hectares of degraded forestlands in the towns of San Marcelino and Subic are poised for restoration following a landmark five-year partnership aimed at reviving the region’s biodiversity.
The initiative is formalized under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Gala Aeta Kulihig Association Inc. (Gakai), and AP Renewable Energy Corp. (Aprec). The collaboration was officially announced on Monday, marking a significant step toward local environmental stewardship and ecosystem resilience.
The rehabilitation project follows a model that integrates government oversight, private sector funding, and indigenous community action:
- DENR: As the lead agency, the DENR will provide technical supervision, including planning, documentation, and rigorous monitoring of the restoration progress.
- AP Renewable Energy Corp. (Aprec): The private firm is responsible for funding the seedling production, maintenance, and protection of the sites, as well as driving community awareness programs.
- Gala Aeta Kulihig Association Inc. (Gakai): The local Aeta community will handle the ground operations, managing nurseries and coordinating the actual tree-planting and forest protection activities.
Marife Castillo, head of the DENR Zambales provincial office, noted that the project will prioritize planting a mix of native timber species, bamboo, and fruit-bearing trees. This strategy is designed not only to restore forest cover but also to provide sustainable resources for the local community and improve long-term forest recovery.
“Rehabilitating our forests requires not just resources, but strong partnerships and shared accountability,” Castillo stated.
The project is a localized component of the government’s Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP). By addressing deforestation and land degradation, the initiative contributes to broader national goals of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
Ralph Pablo, DENR Regional Executive Director, emphasized that the collaboration serves as a blueprint for how various sectors can unite to implement meaningful, long-term reforestation efforts that benefit both the environment and local residents.