Investors join SBMA’s Adopt-a-Forest program

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Several locators inside this freeport have joined the "Adopt-a-Forest" program of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) which aims to reforest the 400 hectares of upland forest here.

A simple ceremony was held recently at the reforestation area in Mt. Santa Rita inside the freeport zone attended by SBMA Ecology Center manager Ameth Dela Llana and Tourism manager Kenneth Peralta with a number of freeport investors led by Juken Sangyo managing director Shuji Terada, Nidec Philippines senior manager Toshiko Kasahara, RCM manufacturing general manager Dean Mark Hate, Gregorio Magdaraog and Richard Encomienda of Wildlife in Need, Subic Bay Industrial Park (Taiwanese group) and Subic Techno Parks (Japanese group) investors.

"The project concept is that each investor committed to plant at least 100 seedlings in a 900-square meter parcel of land in Mt. Santa Rita. They would also take care of the seedlings for the duration of three years or until they are strong enough to survive," Dela Llana told The STAR by phone.

The project is different from any other tree-planting project where one lets nature take care of the seedlings after planting them. "This is adoption, and like that in adopting a child, you treat it as if it were your own," she added.

Japanese investors Kasahara and Terada expressed delight at the opportunity given to them by SBMA as partners in projects like this "Adoprt-a-Forest" program. "As private investors, it is a great honor to plant trees in this part of country that will make a very critical significance to the next generations," they told The STAR.

Subic is among the few remaining places in the country where astounding biodiversity is found, making it one of the best venues in the country for all types of conferences, research, training and tourism-related activities. It also caters to all kinds of audiences and participants focused on the preservation, protection and understanding of our eco-system.

The forests of Subic are also considered a major asset of tourism industry of Subic, which is regularly visited by nature-lover tourists, students, professionals and convention organizers.

Among the freeport’s eco-tourism facilities are the Apaliin Trail, which provides a one-hour walk inside the thick forest area towards the majestic Triboa Bay Sanctuary; Slide-for-Life, which gives visitors an experience to glide and walk on hanging bridges over the trees, and the Pamulaklaking Village Forest Adventure.