State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is aggressively expanding its network of partners to bolster the National Government’s forest rehabilitation efforts across the country.
DBP President and CEO Michael O. de Jesus said the Bank has committed to reforest 7,500 hectares through its DBP Forest Program (DFP), contributing to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) flagship Forests for Life: Five Million Trees by 2028 Program.
“DBP shares with the 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, the country’s 10th largest bank by assets, provides credit support to infrastructure and logistics, MSMEs, environmental initiatives, and social services and community development.
The DENR launched its Forests for Life program in March to restore critical forest ecosystems in Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Rizal, Leyte, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte.
De Jesus said DBP aims to enhance its Forest Program’s impact by mobilizing more partners, including local government units, people’s organizations, government institutions, cooperatives, and indigenous peoples, advancing the Marcos Jr. administration’s goal of establishing more livable communities.“The DFP was established in 2005 and serves as a pillar of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility for the environment that encourages 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.”
