NAMALISA environmental group: planting dreams with the ‘Grow Trees Community’ in Benguet

 

John Dizon, Jr. head of Benguet-based environmental conservation group, Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), and his family have been long-time stewards of protected trees in their community in Tuba, Benguet. NAMALISA plants trees in support of SM Foundation’s and Fast Retailing Foundation’s Grow Trees Community project.

Like his father before him, John Dizon, Jr. had willingly taken up the mantle when the time came for him to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father passed away in 2012. It was then that we found out that the area he is managing in collaboration with the government was part of a community-based forest management program,” said Mr. Dizon.

Mr. Dizon had since worked closely with the SM Foundation for its inaugural tree-planting campaign back in 2013 to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.

With the impact of climate change more felt in recent years, Mr. Dizon shared the importance of planting more trees in communities to thin out air pollutants in keeping the air fresh and people healthier. The trees which his father planted also helped prevent soil erosion and landslides caused by earthquakes.

He nurtures a dream that some of his children will take after him to help protect the environment. Getting closer to that dream, one of his sons is eyeing a career in forestry, a nod to his father’s chosen field.

To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon supports the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan through the Grow Trees Community campaign.

The said project aims to plant and grow forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra and Coffee trees to help create livelihood opportunities for the community by working closely with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA in Tuba, Benguet.

People’s Organization NAMALISA plant trees at the launch of Grow Trees Community in Tuba, Benguet

The proponents teamed up with SM Supermalls and government partners such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police, Philippine Information Agency and the local government of Tuba.

Grow Trees Community was previously launched in Nasugbu, Batangas and Macabebe, Pampanga. Across the three locations, the project aims to plant over 200,000 seedlings and propagules.

It is in support of the SM Green Movement that seeks to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

FR Foundation focuses on promoting research designed to help make the world a better place, spurring technological development, nurturing human resources, and supporting socially vulnerable individuals or groups.

It is part of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., the leading Japanese retail company that owns well-loved casual wear brand, Uniqlo.

SM Prime: Building Better, Greener Offices

In two years that the world faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, awareness on the importance of sustainability in everyday living had been highlighted. Environmental awareness eventually caught on through practices such as shifting to paperless, reducing plastic use and planting more trees.  And for property developers, taking part in this movement means transitioning into green, environmentally sound offices and developments.

Such is the case for SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a publicly listed subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC). It is transforming the way urban spaces are built and managed as it commits to building innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities. SM Prime is future-proofing its developments to be more responsive and adaptive to community needs and the effects of climate change. It recognizes the importance of green spaces and had developed comprehensive sustainability goals ranging from energy to ecology.

Over the years, SM Prime has continued to elevate its approach to building and development of community spaces. All these green initiatives have been recognized by reputable and well-known organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which awarded Conrad Hotel Manila and SM Aura Premier the Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

“When we build, we build with the community in mind. This is why it is important to integrate sustainability in our developments and operations. We remain committed as an environmentally-conscious and responsible integrated property developer ready to serve the ever-changing needs and aspirations of our communities and stakeholders,” said SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim.

having the whole life cycle of a building in mind. We invest a tenth of our capital expenditure to ensure that sustainability is integrated into our properties as we carefully plan our developments for our communities, the environment, and future generations ,” SM Prime’s Mr. Lim said.

SM Prime Holdings spearheads 2022 International Coastal Cleanup 2022 in partnership with SM Cares and SM By the Bay

Last September 17, 2022, SM Prime Holdings, together with SM Cares and SM By the Bay have joined in the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), bringing together 2,438 volunteers to collect an estimated 12,158 kgs of plastic and debris, equivalent to a total of 1,613 filled trash bags.

The event underscored the importance of protecting the world’s seas, oceans, and other bodies of water. It was held at the SM By the Bay Central Park, SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Among those who graced the event were Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Sec. Robert Borje, Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan, DENR-NCR Regional Executive Director for Technical Services Engr. Ignacio R. Almira, DENR-NCR Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Group Head Chris Villarin, DENR-NCR Communication Development Officer II Ariz Abad, SM Investments President and CEO and 2GO Group President and CEO Frederic DyBuncio, SM Prime Holdings Inc. SVP Glenn Ang, SM Supermalls SAVP for Operations Perkin So, SM By the BAY Mall Manager Marie Charlene Claire K. Canoy-Narvasa and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines’ Markets and Assurance Executive Director Allan Cao.

Plastic pollution is a massive problem everywhere and Coastal Cleanup drive is one of the most immediate ways we can help keep our ocean healthy. The ICC is a yearly global event that encourages individuals to be part of the movement for cleaner seas and oceans. Every year, thousands of Filipino volunteers from various sectors and communities join the efforts to help ensure the cleanliness of the shorelines and waterways in the country.
individuals can drop off their recyclable waste in exchange for cash; the Plastic Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Programs which promotes responsible plastic and electronic waste management affecting our seas, just to name a few.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.