The first ten thousand trees (of 50,000) were planted along the shore of Punta Dumalag in Matina Aplaya last Saturday by members of the Davao City High Alumni Association, Inc, Batch 85. The batch includes incoming tourism director Art Boncato and sports writer Charles Maxey (Sun Star Davao).
The 10,000 trees are part of the 50,000 trees being targeted by Globe Telecommunications for 2010 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
‘We have already planted 28,000 trees,” Globe corporate communications head, Yolly Crisanto, said during the Club 888 press conference at The Marco Polo Davao three days before the tree planting activity.
Crisanto said “what makes the tree planting activity more significant” is that the area is sanctuary for turtles.
USAID mission director Jon Lindborg released a Hawksbill turtle at the Pawikan Sanctuary in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya three years ago, and was surprised to learn that the sanctuary has remained well-protected despite being very close to human settlements.
The Sanctuary, which has been identified as a nesting ground for marine turtles, is part of the 37-hectare marine protected area.
Boncato said they chose “Green Earth” as the theme of their activity to coincide with the city’s and region’s effort to promote Davao as an environment-friendly destination.
While she refused to divulge the exact amount allotted by Globe for its CSR progran, Crisanto said the company spends a substantial amount of money for CSR.
“When Globe goes into CSR it is always sustainable and not just a one-shot deal,” she said. At least 70 volunteers who are Globe employees will be joining the group for the tree planting activity. [Lovely A. Carillo]
