Senator Legarda reiterates call for active engagement in environmental stewardship this Arbor day.

As the country celebrates Arbor Day today, Senator Loren Legarda is calling on all Filipinos to take an active role in environmental stewardship through tree planting efforts and green initiatives in their communities.

“Every tree that we plant today is a seedling of hope for the future. We must embrace this shared advocacy to pursue environmental sustainability for ourselves, for our children, and for the succeeding generations,” said Legarda, who has been at the forefront of environmental legislation and grassroot programs since her first term in the Senate in 1998.

Arbor Day, observed every June 25 under Proclamation No. 643, promotes a nationwide movement for tree-planting. Legarda underscored that the active collaboration of the national and local governments, the private sector, and sectoral groups is key to revitalizing degraded ecosystems, protecting natural resources, and addressing the evolving climate crisis.

“Since I was young, I’ve found joy and peace in planting trees. To this day, as a backyard farmer, it remains more than a hobby, it’s a responsibility I carry with deep conviction as a legislator,” Legarda shared.

A staunch advocate of environmental conservation and ecological resilience, the four-term Senator continues to push for legislation on sustainable land use, biodiversity protection, and climate adaptation. Among the bills championed by Senator Legarda are Senate Bill No. 2135, or the Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act, which empowers barangays and local communities to take an active role as stewards of the environment; and Senate Bill No. 2320, or the Sustainable Forest Management Act, which seeks to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of the country’s forests and forest resources.

Legarda emphasized that successful reforestation requires more than planting for the sake of numbers—it means planting the right trees, in the right places, and ensuring they survive and thrive.

“Native trees, in particular, play a vital role in restoring our forests and rebuilding the health of our ecosystems. These are the species naturally adapted to Philippine climate and soil. They support local biodiversity, protect watersheds, and are more resilient in the face of disasters and changing weather patterns,” Legarda said.

“Let Arbor Day inspire us that what we plant and nurture at present shapes the future we will harvest,” she added.

Legarda encouraged all to join hands in tree-planting efforts, support the protection of native and endemic tree species and help cultivate a strong culture of environmental consciousness among all Filipinos. (30)