enabling sustainability - Aboitiz Power

Rejuvenate
nature
“We plant trees because we want our indigenous birds and
other animal species to thrive and inhabit our forests. We
care for the next generation. We plant trees because of our
passion for a better world,” said Aboitiz Equity Ventures
(AEV) President and Chief Executive Officer Erramon Aboitiz.
The Aboitiz Group recognizes that businesses will only thrive in
the next generation if there is a healthy ecosystem that provides
the resources needed for businesses to operate. In line with the
principle of sustainability, the Group has, thus, been implementing
reforestation projects in areas where business units (BUs) operate.
The Group sets a different target number of trees to be planted
every year in forest lands, lands of public domain, watersheds and
coastal areas.
Moreover, other BUs also have agro-forestry programs that
involve planting of suitable tree species. Forests serve as habitats
for plants and animals. They also absorb carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, thus bringing down the carbon levels that accelerate
climate change and global warming.
So far, the Group has planted 1.2 million trees nationwide. Many
of these are indigenous to the area, thus bringing back the
biodiversity in specific ecosystems. Prime movers in reforestation
are Hedcor Inc., Luzon Hydro and the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO).
Another one million trees in the next five years will be planted to
enhance the natural landscape and environment. The goal is to
plant a total of three million trees nationwide by 2015 under the
APARK program of the Aboitiz group.
BUs also run separate agro-forestry programs wherein fruitbearing
trees—and in Benguet, Arabica coffee—are planted to
supplement the livelihood of host communities.
To ensure the survival of the seedlings, the Group and its BUs
partner with local communities. In the Hedcor, for instance,
has for partners schools and LGUs, while Cebu has the Philippine
Business for Social Progress.
VECO refo park
To facilitate the planting of 1 million trees in 3 years, the Visayan
Electric Co. (VECO) embarked on a program that aims to reforest
540 hectares in Barangays Pung-ol Sibugay and Sudlon II within
the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) and 10 hectares of
foreshore areas in Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island.
The watersheds inside CCPL have been identified as valuable to
the water supply of Metro Cebu as they serve as catchment areas
of rainwater, which feed groundwater aquifers on which residents
of the metropolis are highly dependent on.
VECO has partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress
(PBSP), which has been conducting reforestation projects in the
area and promoting awareness among CCPL residents.
The Aboitiz-led power distribution utility is among the private
companies that acceded to protect part of the CCPL, under a
program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) that encourages private sector participation in protecting
the area.
Since it started its reforestation park project in 2010, VECO has
reforested 270 hectares within CCPL and five hectares of foreshore
areas off Mactan Island. Veco exceeded its target of 450,000 trees
for 2010, having planted 464,490 seedlings in CCPL. In the same
period, it planted 50,000 mangrove propagules, staying within the
target for that year. A total of 68 tree and mangrove species have
been planted, so far.
To ensure the survival of the seedlings planted and manage
the reforestation park, VECO entered into a memorandum of
agreement with PBSP. PBSP involves the community in the area to
protect and manage the reforestation park.
14 ENABLING SUSTAINABILITY