QUEZON CITY - The Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) has garnered commitments from 31 partners to plant over 2.7 million trees across the nation in 2025. This initiative, announced during the 2nd Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC) at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) office, aims to secure a sustainable water supply for future generations.
According to the Million Trees Foundation, this year's AMTC not only highlighted the new pledges but also celebrated achievements from the past, including the recognition of partners who significantly contributed to tree planting in 2023. Since its inception in 2017, AMTC has successfully planted 7.8 million trees, with a goal to reach 10 million trees by 2030. Notable awardees this year included San Miguel Corporation, Manila Water, Maynilad, and Sta. Ana International Corporation, each recognized for planting over a million trees between 2017 and 2023.
The foundation, originating from the Annual Million Tree Challenge initiated by former MWSS administrator Gen. Reynaldo Velasco (ret.) on February 18, 2017, has been instrumental in rehabilitating seven critical watersheds such as Angat, Ipo, Kaliwa, La Mesa, Laguna Lake, Umiray, and Upper Marikina, including efforts in Manila Bay. It advocates for planting bamboo along river banks to help control flooding and soil erosion, and narra and ylang-ylang trees in other areas to enhance biodiversity and environmental stability.
MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas outlined the MWSS's commitment to environmental sustainability and water security in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. Cleofas emphasized the ongoing development of a 25-year Integrated Watershed Management Roadmap for key watersheds like Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa. Plans are also underway to extend these efforts to the Umiray-Kaliwa-Kanan Watersheds and eventually include the Laguna de Bay and Upper Marikina Watersheds. Cleofas highlighted the importance of integrating local and scientific knowledge to foster community-wide collaboration in these initiatives.