Telco customers donate P1.6m to plant 16,000 trees in B’non

It was a cause worth every peso and point.

Less than a month ago, Globe Telecom encouraged all its mobile customers to donate their 2018 expiring rewards points to help restore the Philippines’ primary rainforest cover via Hineleban Foundation as part of the company’s rainforestation advocacy. For every 100-point donation, (1 point is equal to 1 Peso), Globe Rewards users were able to fund one tree for planting and even give it a name.

The response was unbelievable! In just 13 days, the rewards points donated by Globe customers to Hineleban Foundation reached 1,600,300 points or P1.6 million, enough to plant 16,003 trees covering 16 hectares of denuded forest areas in Bukidnon. So far, it was the highest donation amount raised in the shortest number of days since Globe Rewards opened up use of rewards points for donation. Globe Rewards is the baseline loyalty program of Globe Postpaid, Prepaid and TM. Customers can earn points and enjoy exclusive offers by simply being loyal with Globe.

“We are happy to see our customers becoming part of our environmental sustainability efforts because we all need to be aware that everything is interconnected. For instance, if we bring back our rainforests, then we increase our ground water storage or aquifers, and in turn avoid a water crisis. The task is undoubtedly massive but we believe that these simple and small ways can go a long way in helping reach this objective,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

Hineleban (Hē-ne-leu-bän) is a sacred Binukid term literally meaning “Mother Tree of the rainforest that sustains the cycle of all life.”  The term was adopted by Hineleban Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization based in Bukidnon, Mindanao, whose vision is to ensure the nation’s water, food and human security by reforesting the mountain ranges of Mindanao, home to the country’s last watersheds, and are inhabited by Indigenous People (IP’s) and Bangsamoro communities.

Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s partnership began in December 2016 where they entered into a Sacred Customary Compact with the IPs as well as a Peace and Development role with the Bangsamoro People to identify steps to fulfil the dream of rainforestation. Together, they are currently reforesting 300 hectares of denuded primary rainforests, a fraction of the 44,000 hectares surveyed and targeted by the Foundation in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. The program is structured into five phases over a five-year period, lasting until December 2021.

The reforestation process begins with the planting of calliandra to quell acidic cogonal grass. This is followed by the planting of tree species that are ideal for agroforestry, including Brazilian fire trees and Caribbean pine trees. Intercropping then becomes the objective, with 600 indigenous tree species per hectare planted to secure the area as a permanent watershed. Some of the species grown are almon, bagtikan, mayapis, apitong, red lauan, palosapis, white lauan, olayan, katii and nato. Hineleban Foundation’s reforestation methodology is internationally recognized, having received the Grand Prize Award for best project in the forestry sector from the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development and the French Development Agency in 2015. (PR)