In a bid to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the Philippine Army launched the 'Water is Life: Agri-Reforestation Project.'

This initiative aims to make the process of donating and purchasing seedlings easier through the 'Gift of a Tree' online app.

The project launch was attended by students, teachers, soldiers, and visitors at the Healing Garden, Camp O'Donell, Capas, Tarlac.

"Mahalaga itong event na ito, sa amin itong estudyante, para sa ating kalisakasan, para mapabuti yung surroundings," Rain Canlas, a Grade 11 student, said.

The 'Gift of a Tree' app is available for free download, providing easy access to seedlings for donation or use in tree planting activities.

The Department of National Defense supports this initiative, recognizing it as a long-term solution against climate change.

"It is philanthropic; disaster risk reduction na nga and climate mitigation and resilience, so talagang suportado ko," Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. of the Department of National Defense, said.

"Ang bawat puno na itinatanim sa kampo ay makatutulong upang maibsan ang epekto [ng] pababago-bagong panahon at El Niño phenomenon," Colonel Charles Castillo, Deputy G7 of the Philippine Army, said.

The 'Water is Life: Agri-Reforestation' project, a collaboration between the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and the Philippine Army, aims to cultivate vacant land with vegetables and fruits to enhance the nation's food security.