Tree growing in Tabunan

Tree growing in Tabunan
Cebu Daily News
June 25, 2012

Last Saturday, more than 750 volunteers from 35 companies trekked to sitio Cantipla in barangay Tabunan to plant trees.

The event dubbed Cebu Hillyland Reforestation Caravan of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)  seeks to mobilize widespread support in regaining the forest landscape of Cebu.

The site of the tree planting event last Saturday is part of the 29,062-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape.

Only native or endemic tree species were planted in order to restore the biodiversity in Tabunan.

Greening Cebu’s protected landscape is vital in preserving biodiversity, creating carbon sink and recharging aquifiers.

15,000 trees for Tabunan forest

15,000 trees for Tabunan forest
By Jessa Agua
Cebu Daily News
June 24, 2012

About 15,000 native and endemic tree seedlings  were planted  in slopes of sitio Cantipla 2 in barangay Tabunan, Cebu City yesterday, the start of a series of   Saturday planting sessions by volunteers of the  Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

The kick-off of  PBSP’s annual Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan was participated in by 750 volunteers from 35 companies.

The site is part of the  29,062-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

Employees from member companies will continue to take turns planting  in different parts of  Tabunan every Saturday until October 27 to maximize the rainy reason.

Doing so is an investment in the future, said Cebu Daily News publisher Eileen Mangubat,  chairperson of the PBSP Visayas hillyland development committee during a short program.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide  in the air, help recharge the aquifer which is the source of Cebu City’s  drinking water and prevent  soil erosion and flooding, she said.

Partners in the community also maintain the seedlings after the activity to ensure a 90 percent survival rate, she said.

PBSP technical officer Leo Pelletero, who demonstrated the proper way to plant the seedlings,  said PBSP works with the Pung-ol Sibugay Multipurpose Cooperative, Tabunan Forest Warden Farmers Association, Sayaw Farmers Association and KEEP Foundation.

About 10 million trees were planted by PBSP and its partners in the  past two decades, said Reggie Barrientos, PBSP communication officer.

Only  native and endemic tree species are  used in order to promote biodiversity in Tabunan, which is the habitat of the rare Cebu flowerpecker bird and the Black Shama or siloy.

Seedling were distributed for  the Cebu cinammon tree or kaningag which is a critically endangered species, and more common varietes of lawaan, tipolo, molave and narra.

Fr. Monico Catubig led an invocation before the planting and Tabunan barangay captain Lucresia Gabato welcomed the volunteers.

A children’s storytelling session was held under the shade of  trees through the Philippine Daily Inquirer Read Along program while adults trekked and planted seedlings.

Two “green clincis” were held after lunch to extend the educational value of the trip.

Lisa Paguntalan of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI) handled a  special pop quiz about biodiversity for participants.

Godfrey Jakosalem led a session on  the basics of  wildlife photography and birdwatching.

IBM marks anniversary with mangrove planting

IBM marks anniversary with mangrove planting
Cebu Daily News
June 21, 2012

As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, IBM Philippines held a mangrove planting in barangay Poblacion, Aloguinsan, southwest Cebu in collaboration with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

Last June 16, IBM employees joined the activity that aimed to create a healthier mangrove forest that will boost the town’s main source of livelihood.

Aloguinsan has more than 5,000 households that depend on fishing for a living.

It is said that 75 percent of all tropical fish pass through mangroves, which serve as their nursery grounds, shelter and source of food.

“Planting and maintaining mangrove forests greatly contribute not only in ensuring the balance in our ecosystem and the protection of our natural resources and people. It also helps in bringing back biodiversity, in developing eco-tourism, and sustaining socio-economic development in our country. Thus, community-based initiatives are crucial in the preservation and nurturance of the environment,” RAFI president Roberto E. Aboitiz said.

“On July 20, IBM will mark a diamond milestone – 75 years of operations and service in the Philippines, unmatched in the local technology industry, said Mariels Almeda Winhoffer, president and country general manager of IBM Philippines.

“This year will not simply be a milestone. Rather, it will be an opportunity to heighten IBM’s commitment to the country. We have been in Cebu for five decades now and we will continue to engage in partnership with Cebu to seize the opportunities and the promise of Cebu today and the years beyond,” she added.

IBM and RAFI are committed to work towards a ‘greener’ Cebu.

Last year, IBM Philippines employees and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas worked on a mangrove reforestration project in Olango Island.

Blaze consumes trees in reforestation site, damages part of watershed

Blaze consumes trees in reforestation site, damages part of watershed
By Bernadette A. Parco
Sun.Star Cebu
April 18, 2012

ABOUT 3,000 trees were eaten by a bush fire at a reforestation project of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in the mountain barangay of Toong, Cebu City last Friday.

According to a PBSP field survey, the fire—which occurred at noon as residents reported—damaged a 4.8-hectare reforestation site. Of the affected area, three hectares were planted in 2008 while the rest were planted last year.

Since the fire, which was put out after two hours, damaged part of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is closely monitoring the area.

Buhisan watershed is part of the nearly 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

“What happened in the area was an isolated case,” said Malu Largo, program coordinator of the PBSP-Visayas Regional Operations. She added that the dried leaves of the teak trees may have caught fire during the heat.

The trees eaten by the fire were part of the reforestation project of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) and PBSP. Only about 991 trees were left unharmed.

Survival
PBSP’s programs are funded by its corporate members, like Veco.

Largo assured that PBSP reforestation sites have a high survival rate of more than 95 percent.

She said that since watershed management and reforestation are priority projects of the PBSP, the group will reforest the area.

But she said reforesting denuded mountains and degraded watersheds should be the concern of the government and the community.

But Ma. Alma Ferolyn, Barangay Toong treasurer, admitted that the residents were not really concerned about the bush fire as it happened some distance away from their houses.

She said residents are used to bush fires in summer. Besides, she added, the barangay does not have a disaster preparedness program.

CCPL superintendent Le-bert Omac said a DENR team inspected the 800 square meters inside Buhisan watershed, a source of water in Metro Cebu, that was damaged by fire.

The DENR is yet to determine if the fire was deliberate. But it said in a statement that “the intense heat with the presence of many large dried leaves of teak tree species may have contributed the fire.”(CNU Comm Intern Zarah Joi J. Ancajas)

Two companies join PBSP

Two companies join PBSP
By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento
The Freeman
March 19, 2012

CEBU, Philippines - More and more companies strengthen their mission towards promoting corporate social responsibility and reaching out to the community.

In the recent 24th Visayas Annual Membership of Philippine Business for Social Progress, the foundation which has over 230 corporate members nationwide welcomed and recognized two new member companies – the Venus Group of Companies and Talleco.

Venus Group of Companies is a manufacturer and exporter of handicrafts, furniture, coco-based items and accessories while Talleco is a business process outsourcing company and advertising industry.

Revolving in its current theme “Develop, Nurture, Align”, Jose Antonio Aboitiz, Board of Trustee and Chairman of PBSP Visayas Executive Committee said that corporate social responsibility must also be inculcated in each company’s DNA.

“DNA is life’s blueprint. In the same way, CSR is also essential in PBSP and in companies. It builds concrete bridges of work accomplished in communities and companies. We develop, nurture and align corporate citizenship in your core business in which we also share innovative citizenship approaches,” Aboitiz said.

He added that PBSP positions itself as an organization of choice that bridges the gap between profitability and economic sustainability. He also gave acknowledgement for the contribution of the member companies to the organization’s success.

PBSP Visayas committee has approved P112 million for projects in Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte and Samar focusing on sustainable livelihood and enterprise, health, environment and education.

The foundation has strategically extended its assistance to subcontractors and companies such as Jojie’s Bakeshop, Andy’s Crunchicken, Bon Ace Fashion Tools Inc., Wellmade Corporation, Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation and even the Buhisan watershed.

Rafael Lopa, PBSP Executive Director, noted that PBSP aims to establish models of change through successful projects with the help of their donors, members, advisers and volunteers.

“We hope to learn more form each other by scaling up big solutions from big problems. We are geared towards more projects that answer the need for access of financial and human resources. We value the continuing trust and confidence of our financial contributors to PBSP,” he said. — By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento

In its “DNA” theme, PBSP plans to develop key agents of social change for sustainable growth, nurture institutions for positive transformation and align companies and communities for a mutually-beneficial relationship.

This year, the corporate-led social development organization awarded 13 volunteer advisers form different sectors of the society who shared their knowledge and expertise to the companies and communities.

Pag-Ibig brings water closer to upland homes

Pag-Ibig brings water closer to upland homes
Cebu Daily News
December 8, 2011

Officials and members of Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-Ibig) and its employees’ labor association, with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Sayaw Farmers Association, turned over a spring box water system in barangay Tabunan, Cebu City on Dec. 2.

The project is an offshoot of Pag-Ibig’s 143 program that aims to fund long-term projects in adopted communities in line with its corporate social responsibility.

The agency’s other projects with the PBSP are the read-along session and the distribution of food packs, snacks, school supplies and toys to 48 grade 6 pupils of Cantipla Integrated School in Tabunan.
The spring box water system was funded by the P500 contributions of each employee of Pag-Ibig branch that totaled to P60,000.

“We are trying to show a new face of Pag-Ibig by not only helping people through our jobs, but by sharing our personal resources to help those in need,” Pag-Ibig Fund Cebu branch manager III Rio Teves said.

Rodrigo Tecson, an 11-year-old resident in the area, said, “I’m happy that PBSP and Pag-Ibig invited us here for the turnover and read-along session. We’re not only excited to use the spring box, but we also learned a lot about the importance of water and our place.”

He said that before, he would always watch his parents leave at dawn to collect water. “It was only when I assumed the responsibility from them did I realize the arduous task,” he said.

“We had to walk for at least 30 minutes before we reached the water source. And we kept coming back to the place to store water we need for a day or two,” he added.

Tecson was among the school pupils who attended the read-along session.

The session introduced them to books about the importance of water, such as “The Munting Patak-Ulan” by Gloria Villaraza Guzman and “Lilay” by Becky Bravo.

Barangay Tabunan is located within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape. It is Cebu’s major source of potable water as well as home to a number of native and endemic plant and animal species. Though considered the water basin of Cebu, residents still experience difficulty acquiring water.

“Now that these residents were given access to potable water with the help of Pag-Ibig, our next step is to ensure that they do not waste this resource, and one of the best ways to address this is to educate the young people about the importance of saving water through read-along sessions,” PBSP senior program officer Olivia Jabido said.