20 November 2021, Siniloan, Laguna, Sierra Madre Mountain Range. In early November, the Philippine Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) requested their third-time contribution for the continued conservation of a protected part of the Sierra Madres Mountain Range, at the Laguna Quezon Land Grant – part of an over 9,000 hectare forest reserve managed by the University of the Philippines (UP) system, under the stewardship of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) – FEED’s first and longest-serving Living Legacy partner.
The SEC, GRI and PSE planted prior on two occasions, once in commemoration of the 7th SEC-PSE Corporate Governance Forum under the theme “Business Resiliency and Innovation in a New Normal Era” (held last November 19th, 2020), whereby 192 trees were planted in the same forest honoring the 16 key speakers, panelists and moderators; and the second time, by the SEC (on December 1st, 2020) to gift speakers attending a webinar on disaster resilience.
A total of 264 native Philippine agro-forestry tree species were planted, including: 100 Babaysakan, 100 Bolong-eta and 64 Malaruhat. The forest guardians responsible for seedling collection, identification, nursery establishment, site preparation, planting, monitoring and maintenance were part of the regular permanent staff managing the land grants, namely: Randy Velina, Roger Glipo, Larry Rizaldo, Ariel Atip and Renato De Leon.
May the Forest Always Be With You ~ Earth Keepers!
Congratulations to all those involved who enabled your continued patronage as CSR Patrons of Education and the Environment, we thank you and hope that your support also inspires others to remember our environment and the protection of our communities who manage these critical natural ecosystems, with special thanks to Mara Louise A. Ruiz (SEC), Shiena Angela D. Aquino (SEC) and Dennise Anne DJ Santos (SEC) for organizing the trees to honor the awardees:
| 1 | Mr. Ramon S. Monzon | 12 | Mr. Cezar P. Consing |
| 2 | Atty. Emilio B. Aquino | 13 | Atty. Kelvin Lester K. Lee |
| 3 | Sec. Carlos G. Dominguez | 14 | Atty. Randy Escolango |
| 4 | Dr. Allinettes Go-Adigue | 15 | Ms. Lyn Javier |
| 5 | Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos | 16 | Comm. Rachel Herrera |
| 6 | Mr. Augusto Hidalgo | 17 | Asec. Paola Sherina Alvarez |
| 7 | Mr. Enrique Victor Pampolina | 18 | Atty. Rachel Esther J. Gumtang-Remalante |
| 8 | Dir. Constant Van Aerschot | 19 | Mr. Matthias Gelber |
| 9 | Mr. Marvin Fausto | 20 | Ms. Ping Manongdo |
| 10 | Ms. Monica Bae | 21 | Atty. Roel Refran |
| 11 | Dr. Arnil Paras | 22 | Ms. Sophia Rodriguez |
On behalf of our forest guardians, thank you to all involved for your outstanding support especially during this challenging Covid-19 pandemic, a critical moment in our history that compounds the seemingly insurmountable hurdles the world faces with 
climate change.
Your CSR contribution provides much needed livelihood our forest communities need to ensure full survival of species planted, also enabling them to expand their own fruit and vegetable gardens for their own sustenance, as part of the master plan development of our protected forest.
FEED Founder (right) pictured with FEED Director of Partnerships, Anne-Marie Mananquil Bakker
“We are especially grateful to individuals who pioneer their organizations into such community-based reforestation programs, for despite the pandemic challenges, in partnership we can accomplish so much more together towards the preservation of a sustainable forest culture. What many people do not know is that agro-foresters, fisherfolk and farmers are considered by the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) as front-liners, in consideration of their role in protecting our freshwater, food and energy supplies of the country. Thank you SEC, GRI and PSE for your continued support of their efforts!” -Ophelia Bakker-Manankil, FEED Founder
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GPS Coordinates
Use any GPS (Global Positioning System) software / applications to input the latitude and longitude coordinates to be able to remotely see the location of your trees planted. Some examples include:
Brief Overview into the Conditions of the Philippine Forest (Source: ESSC)
The Philippines is paying a high price for the destruction of its forests and a number of major problems confronting the nation can be traced directly to deforestation. Today, the country faces food insecurity due to soil erosion, which means depleted nutrients and low crop yield. In many provinces, at least 50% of the topsoil has been lost, and 70% of all croplands are vulnerable to erosion. The country’s climatic conditions are such that typhoons sweep the country an average of 19 times a year. The topography is mainly uplands with a slope equal to or greater than 18% and these areas make up 52% of total land area. In the absence of forest cover and with frequent heavy typhoon rains, soil erosion, mass wasting, and landslides are induced.
The Philippines is facing water insecurity because of degraded and poorly managed watersheds. More than 57 % of the major watersheds are critically denuded, which means loss of water infiltration and slow recharging of water tables. Nationwide, water quality has deteriorated and cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Baguio, are constantly facing water shortages. A country that once exported some of the finest woods in the world is now a net wood importer.
The decimation of the forest is a tragedy for indigenous peoples. Ethnic groups become forced to retreat into the interior and further impoverished. Government is doing little to raise these people above their subsistence level. Some have left their lands, and the sight of indigenous peoples begging in city streets is not uncommon. They have lost their lands, and their culture has been degraded. With the destruction of indigenous cultures, the nation is losing a treasure that should be nurtured to enrich national cultural diversity.
This loss of cultural communities is closely linked to the loss of biodiversity. Tropical forests are rich in herbs, woody plants, birds, insects, and animal life. Destroying the forests means destroying the myriad creatures and flora on which the indigenous communities depend. Forest loss also means loss of forest products such as, rattan, resins, and gums, a source of livelihood for indigenous people. Wildlife is quickly disappearing and to date, the destruction of the ecosystems is taking a heavy toll on biodiversity: 18 species of fauna are already rare and endangered, while 43 species of birds are threatened with extinction.
Related Articles:
- Global Reporting Initiative, Securities & Exchange Commission and Philippine Stock Exchange Gift a Forest to Friends (13 Nov 2020)
- Earth Keepers from Financial Sector Sponsor Their Own Forest (09 Dec 2020)
Contact FEED
In 2015, the Philippine government submitted to the United Nations the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The carbon dioxide reductions will come from the sectors of energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry. Join us! Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.
Tree-Planting with FEED
Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own tree-nurturing event: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.
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