Introduction
Tacloban City, Philippines — October 2025. In a strong demonstration of civic partnership and environmental responsibility, PH Haiyan Advocacy Inc. has officially postponed indefinitely the kickoff of its flagship initiative, the “Adopt-a-Tree: Tacloban Bypass Road Tree-Planting Project,” to ensure full alignment with national infrastructure policies and ongoing government reviews related to DPWH Department Order No. 73, Series of 2014.
From Vision to Action: The Birth of Adopt-a-Tree
Launched as part of PH Haiyan’s broader campaign to build climate-resilient and sustainable communities, the Adopt-a-Tree project aims to restore green corridors along the Tacloban Bypass Road—a vital infrastructure artery linking communities while mitigating the urban heat island effect and reducing flood risks.
The initiative was conceived through community-driven collaboration, bringing together government agencies, local government units, civic organizations, and private partners who share the goal of transforming Tacloban’s roadways into models of climate-conscious development. PH Haiyan and its partners successfully conducted preparatory coordination meetings, joint site inspections, and staking activities along identified planting sections of the Bypass Road. These early efforts laid the groundwork for what was envisioned as a landmark public-private environmental partnership under the Adopt-a-Tree Program.
Interagency Consultations and the Policy Challenge
In the course of project preparations, PH Haiyan engaged in multiple interagency consultations involving DPWH Region VIII, the Tacloban District Engineering Office, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). During these consultations, the implementation of DPWH Department Order No. 73, Series of 2014—which restricts tree planting within the 15-meter Road Right-of-Way (RROW)—emerged as a key policy concern. Recognizing the need for harmonization between road safety regulations and environmental sustainability objectives, PH Haiyan took the initiative to formally elevate the matter to the national level.
Advocacy Through Policy Engagement
On August 26, 2025, PH Haiyan submitted a Position Paper and series of letters to national agencies and leaders:
- To DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, appealing for the withdrawal of Department Order No. 73, s. 2014 and the establishment of strengthened interagency coordination.
- To DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla, emphasizing the need for harmony between infrastructure and environmental protection policies.
- To President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., proposing the creation of a Task Force on National Road Infrastructure and Environmental Protection to ensure safety, tourism, and sustainability standards nationwide.
Following these submissions, PH Haiyan issued a follow-up letter on September 3, 2025, to DPWH Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon, commending his leadership and reiterating the appeal for the repeal of Department Order No. 73 and the reinstatement of tree planting in national road RROW areas.
DPWH’s Positive Response and Review
On September 18, 2025, Director Randy R. Del Rosario of the DPWH Stakeholders Relations Service officially endorsed PH Haiyan’s appeal to the Bureau of Maintenance as a matter of urgent environmental and national significance. A week later, on September 25, 2025, Director Gene Ryan A. Altea of the Bureau of Maintenance replied to PH Haiyan, acknowledging the relevance and validity of the organization’s concerns and confirming that the DPWH Legal Service has begun reviewing the provisions of Department Order No. 73, s. 2014. The Department assured PH Haiyan that its proposal to repeal or amend the policy “will be given due consideration in line with the Department’s commitment to balance infrastructure development with environmental preservation.”
Postponement of the Kickoff Event
In light of these developments and following continued consultation with DPWH Region VIII’s Legal and Right-of-Way Divisions, PH Haiyan received official guidance that tree planting within the 15-meter RROW zone should be deferred until national policy review and legal clarifications are finalized. Consequently, PH Haiyan released an official Advisory to all partner agencies and organizations dated October 14, 2025, announcing the indefinite postponement of the Adopt-a-Tree Kickoff and Orientation, which was initially rescheduled for November 8, 2025. The advisory emphasized PH Haiyan’s full commitment to comply with existing national laws and safety standards while continuing to advocate for the reinstatement of environmentally sustainable roadside greening programs.
Gratitude to Partners and the Path Forward
PH Haiyan extended its heartfelt appreciation to its institutional partners, including DENR Region VIII, DPWH Region VIII, Department of Agriculture Region VIII, Department of Tourism Region VIII, OCD Region VIII, TINGOG Partylist, LEYECO II, Tacloban City PNP, JTG Taskforce, LGU Tacloban, COMELEC, RECEMPCO, DOH Dulag, DepEd Leyte Division, DWU Hospital, BSP Tacloban Branch, PAFJ Construction Supply, United Architects of the Philippines – Leyte Chapter, ORNAP Eastern Visayas, Central de Santo Niño de Tacloban, and other community partners. The organization assured its partners that further updates will be issued once interagency clearances are finalized and the DPWH’s policy review progresses.
Continuing the Advocacy
Even as the kickoff activity stands postponed, PH Haiyan remains steadfast in its mission to promote climate adaptation, environmental restoration, and interagency collaboration. The organization’s proactive stance in engaging national policy discussions underscores its belief that true resilience is achieved when development, governance, and the environment move in harmony. As PH Haiyan Advocacy Inc. continues to work hand in hand with government and community partners, the organization reaffirms its dedication to a shared vision: A greener, safer, and more climate-resilient Tacloban—where infrastructure and nature coexist for the welfare of present and future generations.
