The Aboitiz Group recently firmed up its long-standing commitment to the environment, partnering with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) to plant an estimated one million trees and reforest large areas in Luzon and Visayas under the group’s flagship nationwide tree-planting program, A-Park.

Under its partnership with PBSP (cost: an estimated P23.5 million), the Aboitiz Group will plant and maintain 500,000 trees on an estimated 313-hectare property in the Marikina Watershed from 2017 to 2022. The Marikina Watershed, declared a protected area in 2011, serves as a biodiversity site and river basin that catches water from the Central Luzon mountain ranges. Today, only 25% of the area is forested.

Further, the Aboitiz Group will also partner with RAFI and the Department of Education-Cebu to plant and grow 500,000 trees (all native timber or fruit-bearing) through school and community-based activities across Cebu from 2017 to 2020. This partnership will establish native tree nurseries in at least 300 schools province-wide, led by 50,000 public school students, and will include tree-growing training for at least 150 DepEd teachers. The estimated cost of this partnership is at P22.6 million

These partnerships, which total approximately P46M in value, were signed at a ceremony last October 26 by Rey Laguda, PBSP Executive Director; Erramon I. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Armin Luistro, PBSP President; Jon Ramon Aboitiz, RAFI President and CEO; and Susan Valdez, Aboitiz Foundation President.

“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.

STRENGTHENING A-PARK. (From L-R) Philippine Business For Social Progress (PBSP) Executive Director Rey Laguda, Aboitiz Equity Ventures President and CEO Erramon Aboitiz, PBSP President Brother Armin Luistro, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (RAFI) Chairman and CEO Jon Ramon Aboitiz, and Aboitiz Foundation President Susan Valdez during the MOA signing event for the A-Park reforestation partnerships on Oct. 26, 2017.

The A-Park program is a nationwide reforestation initiative of the Aboitiz Group, with the planted trees playing key roles in the group’s overall carbon sequestration thrust as well as the ongoing international action on climate change. The program is the Group’s contribution to the government’s greening efforts in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In 2016, the Aboitiz Group planted 5.4 million trees, each with an excellent seedling survival rate of 77%.

Under its Environment focus area, the Aboitiz Group continues to roll out initiatives that advance business and communities by promoting 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 business units, also enjoins team members to actively participate in minimizing environmental impact through sustainable initiatives.

About Aboitiz Equity Ventures

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) is the public holding company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, and land. Today, AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and in the region, consistently cited for its commitment to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. With five generations of Aboitiz Group business success behind it, AEV continues to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities.

(Story contributed by Thet R. Mesias, Media Relations, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.)