JG Summit Olefins Corporation marked a milestone in its One Million Trees Project, hitting the halfway mark just in time for Philippine Environment Month.
The symbolic planting of the project’s 500,000th seedling was held at the JGSOC petrochemical complex in Batangas City on June 23, 2022, two days before the observance of Philippine Arbor Day.
Leading the event were Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño of Batangas’ Fifth District; Mayor Beverly Rose Dimacuha of Batangas City; Carlos Jose Pastor, Executive Assistant to the Governor of Batangas; Luis Awitan, Batangas Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Officer; Marino Agbayani, JGSOC Senior Vice President for Government Affairs; and Deogracias Fermin, JGSOC Assistant Vice President for Special Projects.
Batangas government officials and JG Summit Olefins Corporation executives at the commemorative tree planting event at the JGSOC petrochemical complex. From left: Deogracias Fermin, JGSOC Assistant Vice President for Special Projects; Marino Agbayani, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Special Projects; Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño of Batangas' Fifth District; Batangas City Mayor Beverly Rose Dimacuha; Carlos Jose Pastor, Executive Assistant to the Governor; and Luis Awitan, Batangas PG-ENRO Officer.
Several other JGSOC executives and employees also joined the special affair, during which an additional 54 banaba, mulawin, and balayong tree seedlings were planted in selected areas within the complex.
Launched in 2016, JGSOC’s One Million Trees Project aims to plant one million indigenous and fruit-bearing tree seedlings in Batangas, the host province of JGSOC’s petrochemical business, and in other areas where regreening and forest rehabilitation projects are needed.
Batangas City Mayor Beverly Rose Dimacuha plants a banaba tree seedling.
To date, 88% of the donated and planted tree seedlings have benefited various localities in Batangas province, while 12% have gone to various government agencies, civic groups, schools, and employee volunteers. This includes the seedlings planted in Boracay Wetland No. 8 in Malay, Aklan, which up until recently, had been adopted by JGSOC as part of its sustainability activities and in support of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force’s rehabilitation of the island.
JGSOC maintains a tree nursery in its manufacturing complex where seedlings are nurtured prior to distribution. Under the project, a comprehensive tree parenting initiative is implemented where aside from nurturing and planting the donated seedlings, their growth is regularly monitored to ensure that they reach their full potential.
Since the start of the project, the variety of donated and planted seedlings have included forest trees such as narra, molave, caballero, and mahogany, as well as fruit-bearing trees such as cacao, dalanghita, rambutan, mango, calamansi, lemon, and guyabano.
JGSOC said that it will continue to pursue this project given the importance of protecting and improving the environment for the benefit of future generations. The company added that it will collaborate and partner with like-minded groups to ensure that the project's goal, to plant one million trees all over the Philippines, is attained.
For more information on JG Summit Olefins Corporation, visit jgspetrochem.com
