5-hectare reforestation, multi-sectoral tree-planting

Demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action, Far Eastern University (FEU) mobilized a multi-stakeholder delegation for its 2026 Arbor Day Tree-Planting activity at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City.

Undeterred by the adverse weather, a team of 45 delegates gathered as early as 6:30 a.m. to hit the ground running. Fortunately for them, the skies remained cooperative with minimal rain, allowing the volunteers to execute the day's environmental mission.

This year’s deployment highlighted a synergy across various academic institutes and administrative offices. The delegation saw a turnout from the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, represented by a large group of faculty and staff, alongside faculty members from the Institute of Education. Joining them were representatives from the FEU Faculty Association, Employees' Labor Union, National Service Reserve Corps, and the Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, Inc.

The Human Resources Department played a pivotal role in cross-campus mobilization, recruiting administrative volunteers from the Guidance and Counseling office, the Academic Development Office, and the Academic Affairs Office, showcasing a unified institutional effort.

The mobilization marks a significant expansion of FEU’s ongoing green footprint. Following a foundational contract established with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the university has strictly adhered to a three-year structural monitoring framework, conducting rigorous quarterly site visits to ensure the survival and growth of its planted plots. In recognition of FEU’s compliance track record, the DENR officially expanded the university’s stewardship zone to a massive five-hectare area this year.

For this deployment, the FEU delegation targeted a plain, highly accessible sector structurally dedicated to Narra trees. The advance team from the National Service Training Program (NSTP) spent days clearing overgrowth and preparing the site, paving the way for the main group to plant an initial batch of 305 trees. The efforts focused on replanting and replacing withered saplings to guarantee full reforestation density and maximize the carbon-sequestration capacity of the plot.

"This activity goes beyond the symbolic act of planting a tree; it represents institutional continuity and accountability," said Atty. Rosalie J. de la Cruz-Cada, Director of Community Relations (COMMREL) at FEU. "Through the invaluable funding and operational support of [NSTP] under the Office of the Vice President for Student Development and Continuing Education, Dr. Joeven R. Castro, and the oversight of our Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Rowena Capulong- Reyes, we are able to sustain this crucial bridge between academic service-learning and real-world environmental rehabilitation."

By fostering direct collaborations between academic institutes, labor unions, and key administrative offices, FEU continues to showcase a holistic approach to ecological preservation. The university’s COMMREL and the NSTP offices will continue to collaborate and lead quarterly monitoring evaluations of the newly planted 305 Narra trees under FEU’s active DENR agreement, ensuring that the Tamaraw community's contributions to the primary water source of Metro Manila yield long-term, tangible ecological benefits.