Annual Million Trees Challenge targets 20-M plantings

Partners in a national reforestation initiative pledged to plant more than 1.5-million additional trees this year, putting the program on track to potentially surpass its 2030 target.

Organizers and stakeholders in the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC) gathered at Estancia de Lorenzo for the 2026 AMTC Recognition and Pledging Session, committing 1,524,640 new saplings.

The new pledges reinforce expectations that the movement will meet — and possibly exceed — its long-term goal of planting 15 million trees by 2030.

Ret. Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco, AMTC founder and Million Trees Foundation Inc. (MTFI) chairman emeritus said the organization is eyeing an expanded target.

“Our target of 15 million trees by 2030 is on track,” Velasco said. “With the continued commitment of our partners, I am confident we can surpass that target and reach 20 million trees.”

Spearheaded jointly by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and MTFI, the nine-year-old initiative has expanded from 1.51 million trees planted in its inaugural year in 2017 to more than 13.1 million trees across seven critical watershed areas.

The program covers the Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, Upper Marikina, Kaliwa, Umiray and Laguna Lake watersheds, which serve as primary water sources for Metro Manila and nearby provinces while offering flood mitigation and biodiversity protection.

Under the theme “The Legacy We Grow: Celebrating Partnerships, Sustaining Futures,” the event honored key corporate, institutional, and media contributors using awards crafted from reclaimed wood produced at the Million Trees Nursery and Eco-Learning Center.

Among the top honorees, the Kampeon ng Tubig Kanlungan Award was presented to entities that planted at least 10,000 trees while leading watershed conservation efforts.

Recipients included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A, DENR Region III, DENR-NCR, Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Manila Water Company Inc., Laguna Lake Development Authority, Sta. Clara International Corp., Luzon Clean Water Development Corp., MWSS Corporate Office, MWSS Regulatory Office and the World Wildlife Fund.

Individual Environmental Leadership Awards went to business executives and public officials, including San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang, Maynilad president Ramoncito S. Fernandez, MWSS administrator Leonor C. Cleofas, DENR PENRO Tarlac head Dr. Jowell P. Dellosa, Sta. Clara International Corp. president Nicandro Linao, Arthur Araña of QBE Group Shared Services Centre, Josephine Dela Cerna of Grundfos IS Support & Operations Centre Philippines, and Green Media Events Company Inc.

Local officials attending the event emphasized the role of urban tree planting in climate resilience.