21 April 2025, Dulao, Aringay, La Union. In today’s fast-moving digital world, it’s easy to believe that technology and nature exist on opposite ends of a spectrum. Where forests once flourished, skylines now dominate. Gadgets and concrete have, in many places, replaced green spaces and open skies. Convenience often seems to come at the cost of environmental integrity. But this dichotomy—this idea that we must choose between innovation and preservation—is not a fixed truth. It is a narrative that needs rewriting. Because the truth is: technology doesn’t need to stand against nature. It can, and must, stand with it.

This belief came to life on April 21 in Brgy. Dulao, Aringay, La Union, during a meaningful, collaborative mangrove planting activity. In partnership with Fostering Education and Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED), Grab Philippines, EcoMatcher Ltd., the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Project, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) together with Office of the Mayor of Aringay, and the full support of the local community of Dulao, Aringay, 1000 mangrove seedlings were planted in a coastal site shaped by both history and hope.

This was no ordinary site—it is a living legacy. Years ago, a woman from the Dulao community named Carolina Yaranon planted the very first mangrove seedling in this very area. Her vision was simple yet profound: to heal and protect the shoreline for the generations to come. Today, her daughter, Delilah Lacaude, leads the same community-based group, nurturing not only the mangroves but also the values of stewardship, resilience, and continuity. The cycle of care continues, rooted in memory, family, and shared purpose. FEED has been working closely with Delilah for several years now, since our first planting in 2022; 25,000 seedlings and 4 years later, the Dulao fisherfolks community are capacitated to do much more.

What happened in Dulao was about more than just planting trees. It was about planting stories, sustaining lineages, and reinforcing connections—between generations, between people and the planet, between past and future. The 1000 mangrove seedlings planted that day represent more than carbon sequestration or shoreline protection. They symbolize hope, regeneration, and harmony. Mangroves serve as a critical defense system against coastal erosion and storm surges. Their dense root systems provide nurseries for fish and other marine life, while their canopies offer shelter to birds and insects. They filter pollutants, stabilize sediments, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. But their greatest power lies in what they nurture: a collective consciousness.

At the heart of this effort is a commitment to community-led restoration. It is the people of Dulao—not outsiders—who will continue to care for the seedlings. Women lead the change, passing down wisdom and responsibility, ensuring the survival of these trees and the future they promise.

The collaboration was made even more impactful with the involvement of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) thru Celso Jucutan – DMMMSU Director for Environmental Concerns, Sustainability and Development and FEED Ambassador since 2018 –  which brought academic insight and environmental education to the field, and PENRO La Union and Office of the Mayor of Aringay, whose technical guidance and coordination helped ensure that the planting activity aligned with broader conservation goals of the province. Their participation underscores the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.

Technology is often painted bad in the story of environmental degradation. But what if it could be a good doer and helper of the environment instead? Grab Philippines is showing that this is possible.

Through its Green Programme, Grab enables users to become everyday climate heroes. With each GrabCar or GrabTaxi ride, users can choose to donate PHP 2.00; for GrabFood or GrabMart deliveries, the contribution is PHP 1.00. What makes this initiative remarkable is that 100% of these contributions go directly into environmental efforts, such as reforestation, mangrove restoration, and wildlife conservation.

In this model, technology becomes a facilitator, a bridge, and an amplifier. It transforms clicks into commitments. It connects digital actions to physical impact. It allows everyday users to be part of something bigger without needing to be physically present on the ground.

At the forefront of these efforts are individuals who embody what it means to lead with purpose. Bas Fransen, CEO and Founder of EcoMatcher, continues to champion global reforestation through digital innovation. From Grab Philippines, Ms. Irish Chang, Director and Regional Head of Sustainability, and Mr. Greg Camacho, Director for Strategy, have both helped shape a corporate ethos where technology and sustainability go hand in hand. Their work is supported by a passionate team, including Isis Pascual (Strategy and Research), Anna Patricia De Chavez (Country Strategy Manager), and Allyza Francisco (Social Media Marketing), each contributing vital energy to make environmental action accessible, visible, and viral.

Grab’s partnership with EcoMatcher adds an extra layer of transparency and engagement. Users can track the trees planted through blockchain-enabled platforms, see their locations, and even follow their growth. It’s accountability in action—and a reminder that tech, when guided by the right values, can drive systemic change.

As we navigate an era of rapid technological advancement, the challenge is not whether to innovate—but how. The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it is a daily reality. From intensifying typhoons to rising sea levels, the Philippines stands at the frontline of environmental vulnerability. In this context, every seedling counts. Every community matters. Every action, no matter how small, ripples outward.

We are reminded that it is not the tool that is inherently good or bad—it is how we choose to use it. When innovation is rooted in empathy, when technology is wielded with intention, the possibilities for healing and renewal are endless.

In a world obsessed with speed, what we need now is balance. The road to sustainability isn’t a race—it’s a journey of collaboration, humility, and persistence. The mangrove site in Dulao invites us to slow down and listen to the wisdom of nature. To plant with care. To protect with passion. To build with conscience.

Progress should never come at the cost of the environment. There can be no thriving economy without thriving ecosystems. There can be no digital revolution worth celebrating if it leaves our natural world behind. Harmony between tech and nature isn’t a utopian dream—it’s a practical, urgent necessity.  

FEED, Inc. extends its deepest gratitude to its valued partners: Grab Philippines, EcoMatcher Ltd., the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Project, DMMMSU, PENRO La Union, support of the Local Government Unit of Aringay, under the progressive leadership of Mayor Benjamin Sibuma and most importantly, the incredible community of Brgy. Dulao. This mangrove planting initiative is a living testament to what becomes possible when innovation meets intention, and when compassion meets action.

This is not a one-time activity. It’s a spark. A beginning. A blueprint for how companies, universities, government agencies, NGOs, and communities can co-create a future that is both advanced and anchored—dynamic yet deeply rooted.

Let us continue building bridges between technology and nature, one seedling at a time. Let us choose progress that uplifts, not exploits. Let us tell stories where digital tools empower environmental dreams, and where every line of code echoes a commitment to the Earth. The tides may be rising, but so too is our collective will to protect what matters.

 

Photo Library:

About GRAB

Over the years, Grab has expanded their offerings across Southeast Asia to include deliveries, mobility, financial services, enterprise, and others—all through one superapp. These services connect consumers from all walks of life with everyday entrepreneurs, providing delightful experiences and fulfilling the everyday needs of millions across 500 cities and 8 countries. Everywhere, cities are getting more congested. People get by with limited public infrastructure. Accessing basic needs like groceries and meals is time-consuming. Options are limited to what’s nearby, instead of what they want. Through their superapp, they are able to provide consumers with easy access to quality everyday goods and services.

Tree-Nurturing Program with FEED

A glimpse into our mangrove planting in La Union—where local knowledge, generational care, and collective action come together to protect our coasts. Led by the community and supported by partners who believe in climate action, this initiative is more than planting—it’s legacy-building.

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.

FEED runs a number of Students and Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – such as mangrove planting for coastal protection or ridge reforestation plantings; One Child, One Tree; Bio-Intensive Gardens (BIG) for nutrition in public elementary schools and other spaces; Climate Change Survival 101 and other LIVING LEGACY programs – customised environmental engagement activities for individuals and organisations interested in contributing to climate change adaptation efforts and greening critical areas such as watersheds, ridges, and reefs that all require rehabilitation.

Join us!  Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.