The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday urged Filipinos to prioritize nature-based solutions (NbS) as the country observes Earth Day, emphasizing that environmental stewardship leads to safer homes and more stable livelihoods.

Marking Earth Day with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said everyday environmental choices, supported by community programs, can translate into tangible relief for ordinary households.

“A family in a rural barangay wakes before dawn to fetch water from a distant spring; a farmer tills land he does not legally own and cannot invest in better crops; children in crowded neighborhoods have nowhere safe to play. These are the everyday costs — in time, money, and peace of mind — that nature-based solutions can ease,” Cuna said in a statement.

Cuna disclosed that the DENR is actively developing a national policy to institutionalize NbS as a core strategy for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, moving beyond traditional, rigid infrastructure.

The strategy focuses on ecosystem restoration, specifically watershed management, forest restoration, and mangrove protection to build community resilience against climate change.

He noted that nature-based programs under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. are designed to deliver direct community benefits.

Reforestation and watershed rehabilitation aim to restore springs and improve local water availability, reducing the hours families spend fetching water.

Similarly, community-based agroforestry helps smallholder farmers diversify crops and stabilize incomes while protecting soil and water.

Coastal protection and the strengthening of marine protected areas are also being prioritized to rebuild fish stocks, ensuring fisherfolk can secure more reliable catches.

“These programs are not abstract targets. They are practical, community-driven actions that put time back in a parent’s day, food on the table more reliably, and a safer roof over a family’s head when storms come,” Cuna said.

The DENR is also intensifying the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility framework to reduce plastic leakage, strengthen recycling systems, and create livelihoods in waste recovery.

Cuna called on local government units, businesses, and households to integrate these solutions into their daily operations and local development plans.

“Collaboration is our power. When families, local leaders, and industry act together, the benefits land directly in Filipino homes: less time spent on basic needs, lower out-of-pocket costs, and stronger, more resilient livelihoods,” he said. (PNA)