RAFI and ICTSI Foundation expand One to Tree program to Luzon, support more than 50 farmers

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(Batangas, Philippines)— Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), a non-profit organization that focuses on upholding the dignity of man by working with communities to elevate their social, physical, and economic well-being in the Philippines, officially announced its partnership with ICTSI Foundation, an active environmental protection advocate, in expanding its One To Tree (OTT) program in Luzon.

RAFI and ICTSI Foundation marked this project milestone with a ceremonial tree planting activity in the municipality of Balayan, Batangas province on October 28, 2022. The project aims to grow 45,000 timber and fruit trees in a 56-hectare area in the next 3 years.

RAFI and ICTSI Foundation’s implementing community partners consist of people’s organizations (POs) such as the Samahan ng mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Brgy. Lucban, Balayan; Calan Farmers Association of Barangay Calan, Balayan; and Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Kababaihan of Brgy. Dao, Tuy, Batangas, in coordination with the Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CARRD).

“One development pillar of ICTSI Foundation is Environment Protection and we are happy to partner with RAFI, a known and credible foundation with its 20-year tree-growing advocacy,” ICTSI Foundation Executive Director Filipina Laurena said. “This project is different in a sense that it addresses various concerns simultaneously – revival of nature, community development, livelihood generation as well as beefing up food supply in the community.”

Grassroots community engagement

Over 50 farmer-members of these POs have committed to participate in seedling production, site preparation, planting, monitoring, and maintenance activities for native tree growing.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed with the MLGUs of Balayan and Tuy to formalize the collaboration between and among partners, including the provision of capacity-building assistance for the farmer-members of the peoples’ organizations.

Cacao, rambutan, avocado, coffee, guyabano, pomelo, lanzones, and kalamansi are some of the native trees to be planted and nurtured at the vacant, rolling, and idle agricultural lands in sugarcane farms in the area.

In his speech during the ceremonial tree planting activity, Mario Aplon, President of Samahan ng Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries from Brgy. Lucban, Balayan, said the farmers are being taken care of–from tree planting to monitoring–and the benefits out of this project will go for generations to come.

“This is the reason why we readily accepted and grabbed this project opportunity from RAFI and ICTSI Foundation,” he added.

Enhancing biodiversity and socioeconomic well-being

“Over the last 20 years, our approach in RAFI has always been holistic. Aside from taking care of the environment, we make sure that the people who take care of the trees are also being taken care of,” shared Amaya Aboitiz, President and CEO of RAFI.

“We recognize that this is a community effort; we cannot just stop at taking part in tree planting activities. We also need to nurture it for it to grow, and, most of all, we need to take care of the communities who take care of our trees.”

RAFI OTT aims to increase the country’s forest cover, enhance biodiversity, and support bio-sequestration to help mitigate the impact of climate change in the Philippines. For the last 2 decades, it has planted 8,327,846 native trees and 1,275,500 mangrove seedlings in 10,410 hectares of land.

In 2021 alone, RAFI planted a total of 641,311 native trees through OTT programs and partners in Visayas and Mindanao. Through its community-based approach, the tree-growing project will continue to expand the program in the coming years to ensure the survival of native trees in the long-term, and uplift farmers through socio-economic development programs and assistance.

Organizations can further aid this cause by visiting the RAFI OTT website: https://onetotree.org/#donatesec

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The RAFI One To Tree (RAFI OTT) program has been active in reforestation and conservation efforts for over two decades and has achieved more than 80% survival rate for native tree growing. RAFI OTT assists companies in the service delivery of Environmental Compliance Certificate requirements set by the Philippine Government, as well as helping them achieve carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation goals.  

The ICTSI Foundation is a dynamic and active collaborator of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Group that cares and looks out for not only the communities of the Group’s business units but society at large. Anchored on youth development, social welfare and protection of the environment, the Foundation helps keep these communities safe, sustainable, thriving and empowered.

NRC, City of Manila, BPI Foundation, ICTSI Foundation join hands for the Adopt-A-City campaign

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The National Resilient Council (NRC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the City Government of Manila, BPI Foundation, and the ICTSI Foundation as part of NRC’s Adopt-A-City campaign last December 18, via Zoom.

The National Resilience Council (NRC) signs a memorandum of agreement with the City of Manila, BPI Foundation, and the ICTSI Foundation as part of NRC’s Adopt-A-City campaign. Through this multi-stakeholder partnership, the Adopt-A-City program aims to strengthen the leadership and governance capacities of its partner cities to achieve human, economic, infrastructure, and environmental resilience through a more robust private sector participation.  Program MOA signatories Amb. Roberto Romulo of CPRF, Ms. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga of NRC, Manila City Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Mr. Cezar Consing of BPI Foundation, and Ms. Filipina Laurena, Deputy Executive Director representing ICTSI Foundation President, Mr. Christian R. Gonzalez were joined by NRC Board Members Mr. Hans Sy, Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Mr. Edgar Chua, Usec. Nestor Quinsay Jr., Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin S.J., and Prof. Ernesto Garilao, for a photo during the signing ceremony.

Launched in 2019, the Adopt-A-City Program is a city-specific partnership model responding to the Philippines’ commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the agreements on Climate and the New Urban Agenda. NRC matches partners’ resources to the strategic needs of the LGU undergoing the Resilient LGU Program, NRC’s 3-year program integrating Science and Technology and Leadership and Governance.

Present during the MOA signing were NRC Convenor Ambassador Roberto Romulo, Chairman, Carlos P. Romulo Foundation; NRC Co-Chair for the Private Sector Mr. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee, SM Prime; NRC Co-Chair for Government Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary, Department of National Defence; NRC President Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga; Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, City of Manila; Mr. Cezar Consing, Vice Chairman and President, BPI Foundation; Ms. Filipina Laurena, Deputy Executive Director, ICTSI Foundation; and the members of the NRC board.

By signing the agreement, the private sector can directly invest in Manila’s disaster risk reduction and long-term resilience efforts. The multi-stakeholder partnership also strengthens private sector collaboration with local governments, academic partners, and communities in co-creating science and technology-based solutions and capacity building for evidence-informed risk governance.

SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee and NRC Co-Chair, Mr. Hans Sy thanked the BPI Foundation and the ICTSI Foundation for joining NRC in this endeavor and vowed to engage and collaborate with them on the ARISE Philippines’ DRR objectives to complement the NRC LGU program.

“2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. In truth, this year may go down in Philippine history as infamous for its unique combination of natural and biological hazards. These natural and biological hazards have greatly affected the country. The level of risk we all faced underscored the urgent need for encompassing disaster resilience. I am most proud of the Adopt-A-City program that started with four members — CDO, Iloilo, Naga, and Iriga — through which our vision and mission continue to inspire progress. While the government has a primary role in protecting all of us and developing national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction, our offer for this distinctive program, I am sure will be greatly appreciated,” Mr. Sy noted.

From the private sector’s end, Mr. Cezar Consing of the BPI Foundation said that they are “very pleased to partner with the National Resilience Council and the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development to help transform the City of Manila into a resilient and sustainable city through the Adopt-A-City program. The opportunity to help transform the city of Manila in an intensive, holistic three-year program for the benefit of Manilenos and all Filipinos is one we value very much.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Filipina Laurena, Deputy Executive Director of the ICTSI Foundation, noted the relevance and timeliness of the Adopt-A-City initiative of NRC as the country faced a series of calamities, both natural and man-made. “We commit our cooperation participation in the Adopt-A-City initiative of NRC. This program will help enable the local communities to prevent prepare for and quickly recover from the effects of disasters coming in the city. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of this partnership and be part of the collective effort to contribute to addressing the Disaster Reduction and Resiliency in the city of Manila,” she added.

For Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, the MOA signing is a momentous event for the City of Manila. “Timing na timing ito sapagkat mas matutunan naming nasa pamahalaan, mas maga-guide kami, at mas paktuwal kaming aakto dahil sa partisipasyon ng private sector. While it is true that there is still a challenge ahead of us, we will continue to be efficient. So rest assured na hindi mapapariwara ang inyong mga itutulong sa lungsod-- panahon, kagalingan--  all resources, we will make sure to utilize it efficiently and we will cooperate. It’s a long process but what matters most is that every day we achieve something and we maintain what we have achieved to be consistent with our effort,” he furthered.

[This is very timely as the participation of the private sector will teach, guide, and help us in the government sector on how to factually respond.  While it is true that there is still a challenge ahead of us, we will continue to be efficient. So rest assured that all the resources-- time, skills-- you’ve invested in us will not be put to waste. We will make sure to utilize it efficiently and we will cooperate. It’s a long process but what matters most is that every day we achieve something and we maintain what we have achieved to be consistent with our effort,” he furthered.]

The NRC is a science and technology-based public-private partnership that seeks to support a culture of disaster risk resilience and prevention in the Philippines. The alliance addresses the country’s complex and dynamic nature of risk by bridging critical gaps between science, policy, and practice through its various programs designed to advance its agenda of building a resilient society.

 

For more information on the NRC’s program, go to https://resiliencecouncil.ph/our-work/

 

 

About the National Resilience Council

The National Resilience Council (NRC) is a science and technology-based public-private partnership organized in 2017. It is the result of the convergence between the efforts of Ambassador Roberto Romulo of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation and the advocacy of Mr. Hans Sy of SM Prime, who is a member of the global board of ARISE, the private sector initiative of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). It was established with initial support from the San Miguel Corporation Foundation, the Zuellig Family Foundation, the Manila Observatory, in cooperation with Price Waterhouse Coopers Philippines and the NDRRMC-OCD.

NRC is co-chaired by Mr. Hans Sy and Sec. Delfin Lorenzana. It has four vice-chairs: Mr. Ed Chua of the Makati Business Club for the private sector, Usec. Nestor Quinsay of the DILG for government, Fr. Jett Villarin SJ of the Ateneo for the academe, and, Prof. Ernie Garilao of the Zuellig Family Foundation representing the CSO community. It is led by its president, Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, and its Executive Director, Malu G. Erni.

It works with 13 National Government Agencies, including NEDA, DOF, DOST, DPWH, DILG, and DENR. Its other partners include 11 private sector entities and professional organizations, 5 civil society organizations, and 10 academic and research partners.

NRC has 9 partner LGUs: Bataan Province, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Iriga, Manila, Muntinlupa, Naga, Ormoc, and Zamboanga City.