EDC, Bencab partner for the environment

MANILA, Philippines - Geothermal leader Energy Development Corp. (EDC) and National Artist Bencab (Benedicto Cabrera) have joined hands in saving and propagating endangered premium native trees. With the University of the Philippines-Baguio, and the Philippine Society for the Study of Nature, EDC and Bencab Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) planted 100 seedlings of 18 endangered tree species at Bencab’s farm in Tuba, Benguet recently. 

The tree-planting activity is part of EDC’s BINHI: A Greening Legacy project, a nationwide reforestation and biodiversity preservation project to arrest forest degradation, contribute to climate change mitigation, and provide sustainable livelihood for forest communities. 

Launched in 2008 using EDC’s three decades of experience in integrated social forestry as platform, BINHI has become a model for corporate-led reforestation programs among Philippine businesses.

BINHI is not an ordinary reforestation project. It is focused on bringing back high-value but fast-dwindling native trees such as yakal, tindalo, kamagong, mangkono and ipil.

Rei Medrano, EDC manager for corporate social responsibility, explains: “We source the few remaining seedlings of endangered premium native trees and grow them into mother trees in planting sites where they can be best protected and nurtured. These sites include, but are not limited to, school grounds, public parks, leisure estates, residential areas and urban spaces as available. These mother trees will be used to propagate more seedlings for transplant all over the country.” 

To ensure the sound implementation and sustainability of BINHI, EDC entered into long-term agreements with BINHI hosts and monitor them through a databank and GIS-generated map.  Ultimately, BINHI seeks to empower the Filipino people so they may take it upon themselves to regenerate these tree species that would have otherwise been lost to us forever.

BAFI is EDC’s 97th partner for the BINHI Tree for the Future project. As a BINHI partner, BAFI will host the permanent planting area within the eco trail of the Bencab museum and share in the responsibility of implementing the long-term protection, monitoring and maintenance of the planted trees until these have grown into mother trees. BAFI will also provide yearly updates on the status of the seedlings for the EDC-DENR BINHI website and database.

Medrano added that EDC has already rescued 85 premium endangered tree species out of the 96 target priority species with the help of its BINHI partners nationwide.

EDC is the Philippines’ largest producer of geothermal energy and a multi-awarded Filipino corporation in the fields of geothermal development, environmental excellence, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility.