Every September 26, the Philippines observes Save Sierra Madre Day, a reminder of the vital role of the country’s longest mountain range in protecting people, communities, and ecosystems in Luzon. Established through Proclamation No. 413, the annual observance commemorates the devastation brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009 and highlights the Sierra Madre’s importance as a natural barrier against storms, a source of water, and a refuge for the country’s rich biodiversity.
Stretching from Cagayan in the north to Quezon in the south, the Sierra Madre forms the backbone of Luzon. Its forests and watersheds provide essential ecosystem services that support agriculture, livelihoods, biodiversity, and communities, including Indigenous Peoples. For Forest Foundation Philippines, protecting the Sierra Madre is part of its broader commitment to conserving the country’s remaining forests and the communities that depend on them.
Bringing Businesses Closer to the Forests
To mark Save Sierra Madre Day 2026, Forest Foundation Philippines, with the support of its partner, the National Power Corporation (NPC), and its grantee, WWF-Philippines, brought businesses and institutional partners to the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve (AWFR) for a learning visit on September 26. The activity gave participants an opportunity to experience the landscape firsthand, learn about the importance of the Angat Watershed, and explore how businesses can contribute to forest protection, restoration, and sustainable management. Rather than viewing conservation as the responsibility of a single sector, the learning visit highlighted the value of bringing together government, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), communities, conservation organizations, and businesses around shared goals for the landscape.
Why the Angat Watershed Matters
Located within the southern Sierra Madre, the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve is one of the country’s critical watersheds. Managed by NPC, the reserve contains lowland forests that provide habitat for endemic Philippine biodiversity. The watershed is also part of the ancestral domain of Dumagat Indigenous Peoples, whose communities have longstanding cultural and social connections with the land and water.
Its importance extends far beyond the boundaries of the reserve. Water from the Angat Watershed supplies approximately 97% of Metro Manila’s potable water, supports irrigation for around 31,000 hectares of agricultural land in Bulacan and Pampanga, and contributes 246 megawatts of electricity to the Luzon grid.These services demonstrate how the health of forests and watersheds is closely connected to the daily lives and economic activities of communities, households, farmers, businesses, and industries.
From Conservation to Collaboration
Protecting the Angat Watershed requires collaboration among organizations and sectors, each bringing distinct expertise, resources, and experience to conservation efforts. Forest Foundation works with conservation organizations and local partners to support initiatives in the Angat Watershed and the wider Sierra Madre landscape. One of these partners is WWF-Philippines, which is implementing the Agroforestry Development and Livelihood for Angat Watershed (ADLAW) project with the support of Forest Foundation. Through this work, partners contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of the watershed while supporting the communities and ecosystems connected to it. These partnerships demonstrate the value of working across sectors to address the diverse needs of critical landscapes—from protecting forests and biodiversity to supporting water security, community livelihoods, and long-term ecosystem resilience.
Creating Pathways for Businesses to Support Forest Conservation
The learning visit also explored partnership pathways for businesses and organizations interested in supporting forest conservation. Businesses depend on healthy ecosystems in ways that are sometimes direct and sometimes less visible—from reliable water and climate regulation to agricultural production, energy, resilient communities, and places that support livelihoods. At the same time, businesses can contribute knowledge, resources, technology, networks, and investment to conservation efforts.
For Forest Foundation, engaging the private sector is not simply about providing financial support. It is about creating opportunities for companies to understand the landscapes connected to their operations and interests, identify where they can contribute, and build meaningful partnerships with communities and conservation organizations. The visit to the Angat Watershed offered participants a chance to see these connections firsthand—from the forest and watershed to the people and communities that depend on them. The learning trip brought together representatives from Aboitiz Foundation, TELUS Digital Philippines, Upgrade Energy, Angat Hydropower Corporation, InLife, Manila Water Foundation, Maynilad Water Services, Brown Trekker, the House of Representatives, NABU Agritech, LCG Group of Companies, QBE Foundation, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). Their participation reflects an interest in understanding the ecosystems that support communities and economies, and in exploring meaningful ways to contribute to forest conservation.
Growing Together for the Forests
The theme of this year’s activity, “Growing Together: Businesses and Communities for the Forests,” reflects the idea that forest conservation is a shared effort. The Sierra Madre cannot be protected by one organization, one community, or one sector alone. Its forests, watersheds, biodiversity, and communities are interconnected—and so are the actions needed to sustain them. As the country marks Save Sierra Madre Day, the Angat Watershed serves as a reminder that the benefits of conservation extend far beyond the forest itself. Protecting forests means protecting water, biodiversity, livelihoods, communities, and the ecosystems that support life. The learning visit is one step toward building stronger connections between businesses and the landscapes that sustain us.
Interested in exploring opportunities to support forest conservation and work with Forest Foundation Philippines? For partnership inquiries, contact partnerships@forestfoundation.ph.
