BIZ BUZZ: From 5M to 10M trees
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thought its target to plant five million trees by 2028 through its “Forests for Life: 5M Trees by 2028” program was already ambitious enough.
But the country’s largest conglomerates apparently did not agree.
Thus during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the conglomerates and Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the target was doubled to 10 million trees.
These trees are expected to contribute to the capture or sequestration by 2038 of an estimated 6.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases behind adverse climate change.
Among those who responded to the DENR call to help reforest critical areas in the country as part of a shared commitment to climate resilience, sustainable forest management and a regenerative future is Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corp.
“Our support for the DENR goes beyond simply planting trees and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. We also focus on understanding our natural ecosystems and protecting our precious but severely threatened biodiversity,” FPH chair Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Federico Lopez said during the MOU signing ceremony.
Pilot sites for the private-public reforestation initiative are spread across critical or flood-prone areas and watersheds in Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. Priority tree species for planting include tropical hardwoods, such as those known locally as yakal-saplunganand palosapis, as well as dao, lamio, kalumpit, bagras, kalantas, agoho, bagalunga, banlag, bitaog, bogo, kupang, and talisai-gubat.
The Aboitiz likewise agreed to partner with the DENR to help accelerate reforestation efforts and enhance environmental sustainability.
The pilot sites for the Forests For Life initiative include the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Leyte, Bataan, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. The program will begin in 2025 with site preparation, partner mobilization, seedling production, and plantation establishment. In 2026, efforts will focus on plantation establishment, maintenance, and protection, which will continue in 2027. By 2028, the program will emphasize maintenance and protection, alongside program evaluation and documentation to assess its impact and ensure sustainability.
“At Aboitiz, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Through the Aboitiz Foundation, we commit to supporting this program by not just planting trees but taking care of them, engaging with local communities, and working with law enforcement to protect these vital ecosystems,” Said Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sabin Aboitiz.
