DBP to expand partnerships for reforestation drive

MANILA, Philippines — State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is aggressively expanding its network of sectoral partners to ramp up support for the national government’s efforts to rehabilitate and improve forest cover in key areas across the country, its top official said.

DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus said that the bank has committed to reforest 7,500 hectares of land through its DBP Forest Program (DFP) and contribute to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) flagship “Forests for Life: Five Million Trees by 2028” program.

“DBP shares DENR’s vision of restoring biodiversity in the country, mitigating the effects of climate change, and ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future through the cultivation of five million trees,” De Jesus said.

DBP is the 10th largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four priority sectors of the economy: infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development.

The DENR launched its Forests for Life: Five Million Trees by 2028 in March – a multi-sectoral program that aims to restore critical forest ecosystems in the priority areas of Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Rizal, Leyte, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, and help regenerate forest ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and improve water resources.

De Jesus said that by aligning with the goals of the DENR program, DBP is optimistic that it can enhance the impact of the DFP through the mobilization of more partners for the conduct of various reforestation activities.

He said DBP, through the DFP, is eager to work with more local government units, people’s organizations, government institutions, cooperatives and indigenous peoples as a mechanism to reforest more areas in the country and to fulfill the Marcos administration’s goal of establishing more livable and sustainable communities.

“The DFP was established in 2005 and serves as a pillar of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility for the environment, encouraging the greening and reforestation of the country through multi-stakeholder collaboration,” De Jesus said. “As of March 2025, DBP has already reforested 50 project sites and planted 6.65 million seedlings in 6,386 hectares of land in key areas nationwide.”