September 13, 2025 — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded a series of simultaneous activities across Mindanao and other regions on Saturday in celebration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 68th birthday, Philippine Bamboo Month, and Handog Titulo Month.
As part of the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat initiative, DENR regional offices turned over thousands of native tree and bamboo seedlings to local government units and communities, while also awarding residential and special land patents to various beneficiaries.
In SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12), DENR distributed around 3,000 native tree seedlings and bamboo propagules to different provinces. Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer, along with Assistant Regional Directors and field officials, also led the awarding of residential free patents to qualified recipients.
In Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Undersecretary for Special Concerns and Legislative Affairs Ignatius Loyola Rodriguez graced the turnover ceremony in Cagayan de Oro City, where 1,600 seedlings—including bamboo, Narra, Molave, and Red Nato—were turned over to the Province of Misamis Oriental. Rodriguez underscored the event as a testament to government’s commitment to uplift every Filipino and promote a “greener Bagong Pilipinas.”
Meanwhile, Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) marked the celebration in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, with the turnover of 3,200 native tree and bamboo seedlings sourced from DENR nurseries. The seedlings—composed of Narra, Yakal, White Lauan, Banaba, and bamboo—were formally received by provincial officials led by Vice Governor Richard Dy Olegario. The event was organized with the Provincial Government under Governor Dulce Ann K. Hofer and attended by multiple national government agencies.
In Caraga (Region 13), the focus shifted to land titling. A total of 234 special patents and other land titles were simultaneously awarded across five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands. Recipients included 15 schools, 32 local government units, and other national government agencies. DENR Caraga OIC-Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo emphasized the importance of securing titles to prevent disputes and safeguard government-owned properties.
The seedling distributions, held under the Punla ng Pag-asa para sa Luntiang Bagong Pilipinas campaign, aim to promote environmental sustainability, increase forest cover, and strengthen climate resilience nationwide. The land patent distributions, on the other hand, form part of DENR’s Handog Titulo program, which provides security of land tenure for schools, LGUs, and communities.
Through these efforts, DENR reaffirmed its dual commitment to environmental protection and equitable land administration—cornerstones of President Marcos Jr.’s call for a more progressive, resilient, and greener Philippines.