Record number of Aboitiz team members plant over 114,000 seedlings nationwide
The Aboitiz Group, together with several of its business units, took its commitment to drive change for a better world to action at the Aboitiz Annual Groupwide Simultaneous Tree-Planting (STP) Activity last July 15, with company team members (TMs) planting 114,007 seedlings all over the country.
A record-breaking 3,924 Aboitiz TMs and partners–a 48% increase from last year’s 2,649–headed to 24 locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to grow several fruit-bearing, mangrove, hardwood, and other indigenous types of seedlings. These included rambutan, narra, guyabano, calamansi, molave, mahogany, and lanzones, among others.
For Manila-based Aboitiz TMs, the Aboitiz Annual Groupwide STP took place at the Makiling-Banahaw (MakBan) Geothermal Site in Sitio Mahabang Parang, Barangay Limao in Calauan, Laguna, a host community of AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI). Participating BUs in Luzon were Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), Aboitiz Foundation, AboitizLand, AboitizPower, Advent Energy, APRI, Aseagas, CitySavings, Hedcor, LiMA Land, PETNET, Pilmico, Republic Cement, SN Aboitiz Power, TLI (Therma Luzon), TMI (Therma Marine), TMO (Therma Mobile), UnionBank, and WeatherPhilippines.
Among these, UnionBank boasted the largest number of volunteers at 725.
Also present were Nonito Tamayo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Director, Forest Management Bureau (FMB); Mayumi Quintos-Natividad, DENR Assistant Director, FMB, National Greening Program (NGP), and other FMB officers.
The Aboitiz Annual Groupwide STP forms part of A-PARK, the Aboitiz Group’s firm commitment to grow nine million seedlings by 2020 thus upholding the importance of a healthy ecosystem by shrinking the Aboitiz Group’s overall carbon footprint.
The Aboitiz Group, through A-PARK, continues to be one of DENR’s largest NGP partners to date.
“The Aboitiz Way has always emphasized the core value of responsibility, not just in our work, but equally important how we interact with our surroundings. A-PARK trees will not only help combat climate change, but also provide livelihood opportunities for our community stakeholders,” said Erramon I. Aboitiz, AEV President and Chief Executive Officer.
“All these are tangible manifestations of our higher purpose that we adhere to in Aboitiz. In our own small way, we are making it happen year after year. The seedlings that we will plant today symbolize our commitment to our Group Purpose, ‘to drive change for a better world’,” Aboitiz noted.
As of end-2016, the Aboitiz Group has already grown 5.4 million seedlings in various locations nationwide, putting the Aboitiz Group well on track to growing nine million seedlings by end-2020, which are then estimated to sequester 189 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
As part of its Environment for a #BetterWorld campaign, the Aboitiz Group continues to roll out initiatives that promote environmental conservation and biodiversity enhancement. These support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land).
Under this program, the Aboitiz Group also focuses on waste management and resource efficiency while supporting the government’s greening initiatives. The Aboitiz Foundation, through the help of Aboitiz BUs, also enjoins TMs to actively participate in minimizing environmental impact through sustainable initiatives.
