STA. CRUZ, Zambales — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Masinloc, has joined forces with Gasat Builders and Supplies, Inc. to rehabilitate forestland damaged by a recent forest fire in Zambales, reinforcing the government’s long-term commitment to forest restoration and environmental conservation.
The collaborative tree-growing activity brought together 45 volunteers who planted 1,000 seedlings of coffee, eucalyptus, and yakal within a 100-hectare National Greening Program (NGP) adoption area in Barangay Guiguis, Sta. Cruz.
CENRO Masinloc Head Donaver Guevarra said the initiative seeks to restore forest cover in portions of the plantation where seedlings planted in previous years were destroyed by a forest fire during the dry season.
“Sustained rehabilitation, maintenance, and protection activities are essential to ensure the successful recovery of the plantation and strengthen the resilience of the forest ecosystem,” Guevarra said.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo emphasized that partnerships with the private sector are vital in accelerating forest rehabilitation efforts and ensuring the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.
“The rehabilitation of areas affected by forest fires requires sustained commitment from government, the private sector, and local communities. Through partnerships such as these, we can restore forest ecosystems, strengthen their resilience, and ensure that they continue to provide vital ecological services for present and future generations,” Pablo said.
Representatives from Gasat Builders and Supplies, Inc., interns from President Ramon Magsaysay State University–Botolan Campus, members of Mu Omega, RHO Delta, Lambada, the Mt. Pinatubo Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association, the Beta XI Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, and personnel from CENRO Masinloc participated in the activity.
The reforestation effort supports the DENR’s National Greening Program, which promotes the rehabilitation of degraded forestlands, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience through sustained collaboration among government agencies, private organizations, academic institutions, and volunteer groups.