In 2011, the Philippines government launched one of the world’s most ambitious regreening projects, the National Greening Program, aiming to restore forests and cultivate barren land by paying locals to plant and tend millions of trees. However, a joint investigation by 101 East and Lighthouse Reports, published on August 1, 2026, reveals that after 15 years, the program has failed to meet most of its targets.

Satellite imagery analyzed during the investigation shows that instead of protecting forests, some areas are still being destroyed. Additionally, some Indigenous communities have expressed concerns about losing access to the lands that sustain their livelihoods.

The investigation by 101 East highlights the challenges the Philippines faces in effectively managing its forest resources despite the ambitious goals set over a decade ago.

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