Megaworld to triple carbon forest cover at townships nationwide
Property giant Megaworld Corp. is set to expand its carbon forest cover more than sixfold to about 1,500 hectares (ha) this year, underscoring an aggressive push to embed sustainability into its vast township portfolio.
The Andrew Tan-led firm says that the expansion from just 240 ha in early 2023 will bring its forest footprint to roughly one-fifth of its total landbank.
Megaworld says that the initiative is part of its broader reforestation and decarbonization strategy, supported by partnerships with the Philippine Army and local communities across the country.
To date, the company has planted more than 550,000 trees nationwide, with these efforts expected to capture about 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
These carbon forests are spread across key areas in Luzon and the Visayas, including Quezon City, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan and Bacolod.
3.5 million trees
The reforestation program forms part of “Project Tree Point Five Million,” which aims to plant 3.5 million native and endemic trees across Megaworld’s townships and partner communities.
The program is designed not only to capture emissions but also to restore ecosystems and support livelihoods through the planting of fruit-bearing trees, such as cacao.
Megaworld’s sustainability head, Jose Arnulfo Batac, says that the company is focusing on protecting forest lands while working with partner organizations to scale up environmental efforts nationwide.
Beyond reforestation, Megaworld says it has transitioned its office, mall and hotel properties to 100-percent renewable energy, allowing it to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 (direct emissions) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from energy purchased and consumed, such as electricity, steam, heat or cooling) in its commercial portfolio ahead of schedule.
These initiatives fall under the company’s “MEGreen” program, which consolidates its environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts aligned with the United Nations sustainable development goals.
Megaworld’s sustainability initiatives have gained recognition, with Project Tree Point Five Million receiving a biodiversity conservation award at the ESG Business Awards 2025.
