PBSP invites volunteers to join reforestation caravan

PBSP invites volunteers to join reforestation caravan
The Freeman, Community section
July 13, 2010


The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) invites companies and individuals to join the 2010 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan by adopting a hectare for reforestation or by volunteering to plant trees on any Saturday of the caravan.

So far, more than 900 volunteers from 35 institutions have already taken part in the caravan since it was launched last June 19. These volunteers joined hands to help regreen the denuding forests in the Cebu hillylands and help put a stop to the worsening effects of climate change.

The 2010 Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan aims to involve the business sector in reforesting 124 hectares by planting 300,000 indigenous tree seedlings for 15 Saturdays from June 19 to September 25, 2010.

“We don't just plant—we make sure it survives. This is the friendliest tree planting activity organized,” PBSP Cebu Hillyland Development Committee Chairman Eileen Mangubat said.

Airlift Asia (Cebu), Inc., KEEP Foundation, Asiatown IT Park, Cebu Daily News, Cebu Energy Dev't. Corp., Cebu Private Power Corp., East Asia Utilities, Fooda Saversmart Corp, Jollibee Foods Corp-RBU Vis-Min, KEEP Foundation, Lexmark Research & Dev't. Corp., Ng Khai Dev't. Corp., Phil. Guardians Brotherhood Inc., PLDT, Qualfon Phils. Inc., San Miguel Corp., Shell Phils., SMART, Sun Star Publishing Inc., TMX Phils. Inc., Toledo Power Corp., Cebu Microelectronics Inc., Petron Corp., Qualfon Philippines, Inc., Dumaguete City Development Bank, Yamashin Cebu Filters Manufacturing Corp. and DMC Busa Printers are among the companies that joined the caravan as of July 3.

Aside from the companies, volunteers from barangays Luz, Magsaysay, Sudlon and Tabunan and groups like the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Sto. Niño de Cebu Agustinian Social Development Foundation, Battalion Irrigators Association and Tabok Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative also joined the event.

“We come up with this activity in order to save our mother earth,” Mark Lloyd Cabahug of Yamashin Filters Mfg, Corp. said.

“If there is corporate social responsibility, there is also what you call cooperative social responsibility,” Janith Boyonas, General Manager of the Tabok Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, added.

Of the 35 institutions, Cebu Microelectronics, Inc. had the biggest delegation by bringing in 200 employee volunteers.


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Inquiries and details about the reforestation caravan can be addressed to Ms. Malu Largo at (032) 232-5283. Interested individuals and companies can also send an email to malu.b.largo@gmail.com/mblargo@pbsp.org.ph.