The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is intensifying forest patrols and reforestation efforts nationwide to protect water sources amid El Niño and potential droughts.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said watershed restoration and forest protection are essential long-term measures to strengthen water security and help communities withstand prolonged dry spells.
The agency is rehabilitating damaged forests and monitoring tree survival in Central Luzon, Bicol, and Mindanao.
In Masbate, the DENR and its partners planted more than 16,750 indigenous and mangrove seedlings across 50 hectares.
The agency is also strengthening patrols against illegal logging, preventing forest fires, and protecting critical watersheds that supply communities with water.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 19, 2026
