TACLOBAN – Two tree-planting activities, the 15th and 16th, were recently conducted by the SM Foundation in Samar and Leyte.
 
The tree-planting is in line with SM’s Grow a Million Trees program, a commitment by the business conglomerate in support of the National Greening Program.
 
The National Greening Program is geared towards reforesting the country to mitigate the effects of global warning. 
 
For Samar and Leyte, provinces known to be along the typhoon path, reforestation will help prevent floods. 
 
In Barangay 98, Camansihay, this city, the target number of saplings to be planted in a 30-hectare site was placed at 15,077. These were saplings of tamarind, and jackfruit.
 
The community is a protected area of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Unilever is the project partner and the tree-planting activity is its maiden partnership with SMFI-Livelihood and Outreach.
 
Among the participants were 171 volunteers from SCMC, Savemore, DENR provincial office, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Unilever. 
 
Also present were members of the partner people’s organization, Camansihay Upland Developers Association, headed by Chairman Adan Esmeres, and representatives from the government, Manuel Ferreras of the DENR; Nestor B. Ramos, officer-in-charge regional director of the DSWD Region 8; and Rey Cruz of the LGU Tacloban.
 
The 16th GAMT activity conducted in Marabut, Samar on a-20-hectare planting area in Barangay Pinalangga was planted with 10,000 saplings of coffee, mangoes, and jackfruit.
 
SM Markets MOB fund provided financial support to the project while the Pinalangga Farmers Association headed by Chairman Arnulfo Tanauan is the partner people’s organization.