Aboitiz Group holds nationwide simultaneous tree-planting

August 20 was a memorable day for the whole Aboitiz Group in the Philippines as thousands of employees and thousands more in partners held their annual simultaneous tree planting activity in numerous locations nationwide. 
In one day, more than 61,000 seedlings were planted by different Aboitiz volunteers from as north as Benguet, Subic, Pampanga and Tarlac, to Cebu and Las Pinas.
In Mindanao, thousands of Aboitiz volunteers had tree plantings in Bukidnon, Sibulan in Sta. Cruz, Talomo and Marilog in Davao City, in Dimapatoy Watershed in Cotabato, Iligan City, Nasipit Agusan del Norte as well as Maco Compostela Valley.
The participating companies in Mindanao include Davao Light and Power, Cotabato Light and Power, the hydropower experts Hedcor group, coal power builder Therma South, and power barge operator Therma Marine. They were joined by their colleagues from the food group, Pilmico in Iligan City.
No less than Aboitiz Group President and CEO Erramon Aboitiz rallied his teammates to the cause, called APARK or Aboitiz Passion for Agroforest and Reforest to Keep.
APARK aims to plant and grow 3 million trees by 2015. The program uniquely integrates the upkeep of seedlings as it ensures the trees that are planted are taken cared of by host community partners.
“Trees play a crucial role in our sustainability efforts. A single tree reduces by about one ton the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere over a single lifetime, and cools the Earth’s temperature by cooling the surrounding air and ground area as well,” Aboitiz said in his personal message to the group.
The APARK program so far this year has planted and is taking care of more than 170,000 seedlings.
As of December 2012, the APARK program as a whole, accounted 2.74 million surviing tree seedlings and is poised to hit its 3 million target more than a year ahead of its schedule.
“(Our) participation in this reforestation inititative will showcase the group’s shared passion for a better world, and ensure a “greener” future for generations to come,” Aboitiz said.