SMART tree planting continues with 123,450 more seedlings

Manila, Philippines November 2008 Renewed efforts of leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) to continue “greening” the countryside have already led to the planting of some 123,450 more seedlings in nine provinces across the country.

Since 2004, reforestation efforts by PLDT and SMART have already contributed over 130,000 seedlings in various parts of the country, including Mt. Sto. Tomas and Naguilian in Benguet, Mactan Island in Cebu, Gen. Nakar in Quezon, La Mesa watershed, Mt. Banahaw, and Mt. Cabuyao. In 2007, some 75,000 seedlings were planted across the country by PLDT Group employee-volunteers.

SMART’s recent tree planting initiatives is part of the three-year tree planting program that the PLDT Group recently embarked on with Japan’s leading mobile communications company NTT DOCOMO, Inc.. SMART is initially targeting to plant a total of 150,000 more seedlings in various sites across the country by the end of the year.

“Through the combined efforts of more than 1,000 SMART employee and community volunteers and partner organizations, we have already been able to contribute to the ‘greening’ of selected areas in various parts of the country. Along with the rest of the PLDT Group and with support from PLDT major shareholder NTT DOCOMO of Japan, we will continue having tree planting activities to help in environment preservation,” said SMART Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto.

In Luzon, employee-volunteers since August have been participating in weekly tree planting activities at the Ipo Dam watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan. Another batch of employee-volunteers also recently visited Mt. Banahaw in Sariaya, Quezon to plant seedlings of fruit-bearing and endemic trees.

In the Visayas, tree planting activities have already been conducted in Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental. The tree planting sites in Cebu include Mt. Manunggal in Balamban, Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve in Buhisan, and Barangay
Tabunan in Cebu City. In Negros Oriental and in Iloilo, the tree planting sites were the National Irrigation Administration dam in Dauin and Barangay Talongadian in Sta. Barbara, respectively.

In Mindanao, tree and mangrove planting activities were held in Maitum and Alabel, Sarangani Province; Punta Dumalag, Davao City; Barangay Bolong in Zamboanga City; and Bongao Watershed in Tawi-tawi.A key factor in the success of the tree planting activities is the participation of employee-volunteers, who see the activity as a way to give back to the community and to help save the planet.

“Sarangani province is consciously making an effort to do massive reforestation after it was badly hit by typhoon Frank. PLDT and SMART employees based in General Santos and Koronadal are committed to help plant and grow 20,000 trees until the first quarter of 2009,” said SMART Wireless Center Operations Regional Manager for Mindanao Raquel Aquino.“It has always been my wish to give back to Mother Nature, even in a small way, and that is why I joined the tree planting at the Ipo Dam. It’s an activity I’d encourage employees to engage in,” said Marielle Ardiente from SMART’s Wireless Consumer Division. ”The tree planting activity gives employees a sense of fulfillment, because they know that they are giving something to the community,” added Bibo Fucoy from SMART’s Information Technology Department.A number of departments have also been using the tree planting program as part of their team building activities.

“The tree planting activity is also a good time for the employee-volunteers to bond. We were happy to see the seedlings that we planted last year at the Friendship Tree Park in Silay City, Negros Occidental have already grown,” said SMART Bacolod Territory Sales Manager Jasmin Jayme.
SMART is working with various government units, private and non-government organizations in the implementation of the tree planting program. “We are really thankful to SMART for planting trees in Banahaw. Having a partner is very important in the successful implementation of our conservation efforts. The tree planting benefits both the environment and the local community. Locals become aware of the importance of trees, and they see that the ones who will really benefit are their children and the coming generations,” said Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape Protected Area Supervisor Sally Pangan.

“We’re glad that SMART has chosen Dauin once again as one of its tree planting sites. Preserving the natural resources surrounding NIA dam is highly important, especially since it is the third biggest dam in Negros Oriental, which helps irrigate some 1,000hectares of land,” said National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Environment Safety Measure Officer Rosemarie Valencia.

For more information on Smart Communications Inc. please visit www.smart.com.ph.