DENR7 Development Management Officer II and Regional NGP Coordinator Ciselo Albiso (center) and DENR7 Information Officer II Sterremae Allego (right) during the Kapihan sa PIA on Feb. 12,2025 in Cebu. (PIA7)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region 7 is urging the public to join their “Tree Hugging Campaign” to raise awareness on the importance of trees in the fight against climate change.
Hugging trees reinforces the value of trees in the campaign for environmental stewardship and also improves one’s mood, said Ciselo Albiso, DENR7 development management officer II and Regional National Greening Program coordinator during the Kapihan sa PIA on Feb. 12.
“Hugging a tree improves our mood. Any type of trees pwede ninyo i-hug, ang importante mafeel ninyo ang value niya. Let us appreciate the trees, the forest through this campaign,” said Albiso.
(You can hug any type of tree. The important thing is to feel its value. Let us appreciate the trees and the forest through this campaign.)
Participants can hug any type of tree they feel comfortable with, either individually or in groups.
DENR7 information officer II Sterremae Allego added that they also encourage outdoor enthusiasts such as trekkers and hikers to join in the tree-hugging campaign while cultivating a sense of responsibility for nature.
“Not only for this month but kada adlaw mohatag ta ug importansiya especially sa atong mga kahoy, sa atong forest. Daghan naman ang mag-trekking or magpabukid, once we hug the trees, ma-feel nato kung unsa ka importante para nato ang mga punuan kahoy. They should be responsible while doing the trek,” Allego explained.
(Not only for this month but every day, we should give importance to our trees and forests. Many people go trekking or hiking, and once we hug the trees, we can feel how valuable they are to us. They should be responsible while on the trail).
The campaign also highlights the personal health benefits of connecting with nature.
“Imuhang breathing pa lang makuha na sa kahoy. So, exchange siya. Kung makasulti pa ang kahoy, malipay sila kay it promotes growth pud nila,” Allego added.
(Even oxygen is produced and released by trees. If trees could speak, they would be grateful because it also promotes their growth).
Organized by the DENR-Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Tree Hugging Campaign will run from Feb. 10 to 14, 2025.
Now in its fourth year, the campaign encourages individuals to hug trees and share their experiences on social media.
To participate, individuals should:
- Like and follow the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) on Facebook and Instagram,
- Share the official event post from FMB or DENR-NCR on their social media accounts,
- Take a high-resolution photo of themselves (or with a group) hugging a tree to express respect, affection, and a connection with nature,
- Write a creative caption highlighting the significance of trees in our environment and daily lives, and
- Post the photo and caption on their public Facebook account using the hashtags: #OneTreeLove, #FMBTreeHuggingCampaign2025, and #PunoNgPagmamahal.
DENR7 is also promoting the “Love Our Earth” campaign, which emphasizes responsible waste management through the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for storing single-use plastics.
Collected PET bottles, or eco bricks, are gathered and upcycled using specialized machinery to produce bricks and pavers.
DENR has also partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, and the University of the Philippines for their reduce, reuse, and repurpose projects. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
