The Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has a National Greening Program (NGP) wherein 1.5 billion trees will be planted for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016 covering 1.5 million hectares all around the Philippines. The NGP is a nationwide forest rehabilitation program of the government under President Benigno S. Aquino III. 

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform and the DENR are working together to make this a successful initiative.  All lands of public domain including forestlands, mangroves, protected areas and other areas can be planted on. Half of the trees will compose trees for timber production while the other half will compose agroforestry species.

The NGP is not only for reforestation but more importantly it will mitigate the effects of climate change by having more trees to absorb the carbon emissions.  This will also give alternative livelihood through the establishment of seedling nurseries in upland and lowland areas and maintenance of the forest areas. 

Just last month of January 2015, the Philippine government through DENR engaged the services of the Ateneo De Manila University  (ADMU) to "gauge the actual impact of the government?s massive reforestation program in addressing climate change".   ADMU will help DENR to assess the effectivity of the NGP in reducing greenhouse gases (GHG).  The contract was signed by DENR Assistant Secretary Corazon Davis and ADMU president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ. 

The role of ADMU is to monitor GHG emissions and assess carbon sequestration of forests.   As we know, GHG contributes to global warming and climate change.  They will come up with a website where technical data and documentation reports will be presented.  ADMU will be working with several government agencies on this project.

ADMU is recognized leader in monitoring the effects of climate change.  In June 2013, the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. (The OML Center) awarded a research to ADMU.  Their research aims to find scientific-based information that can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change and natural disasters that result from them.

I?m proud to say that ADMU is my school where I am now taking up BS major in Environmental Science. Proud of my school!