Doubling targets over lunch

Attended a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lunch event last week, and it was announced as a "Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028" initiative. As DENR Secretary Maria Antonia 'Toni' Yulo-Loyzaga explained, it was about bringing together LGUs, NGOs, private companies, and stakeholders to address deforestation, find ways to increase our forest cover, and stimulate our response to climate change and environment-related sustainability issues.

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With six identified priority areas — Bataan, Bukidnon, Lanao Del Norte, Ilocos Norte, Rizal, and Leyte — the lunch at the Peninsula's Rigodon Ballroom saw a generous outpouring of support from diverse sectors, corporations, and individuals. While it was generally reported by media from an outputor PR-release angle; what struck me-sitting at a table behind our DENR secretary and special guest, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara-was how this initiative was also a testimonial to the possibilities of Public-Private Partnerships. And secondly, to the power of personality-this was Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga asking us to plant trees, and look who showed up to represent their respective companies: only the captains of industry and commerce, the CEOs and presidents of companies that drive our stock exchange.