PBSP’s reforestation caravan starts June 23

“We don’t just plant trees; we let them grow.” This is the headlining campaign of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) as it launched the 20th run of its Cebu Hillylands Reforestation Caravan.

The annual event engages corporate and individual volunteers to not only plant trees but also help ensure their growth.

The event, also in partnership with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and KEEP Foundation, will kick off on Saturday, June 23 in sitio Cantipla 2, barangay Tabunan, Cebu City. It will run for 18 Saturdays until Oct. 20.

PBSP will assist some 5,000 volunteers not only plant seedlings but also conduct maintenance activities.

For the next Saturdays following the kickoff, volunteers will do strip brushing, ring weeding, replanting of damaged tree seedlings, application of vermicompost and staking on some of PBSP’s most recent reforestation plantations.

PBSP’s partners, community organizations will maintain the trees planted.

PBSP hopes to kick off the event with 800 volunteers from at least 20 companies and plant 15,000 seedlings in six hectares.

PBSP’s previous year’s kickoff had the largest delegation with 848 volunteers from 43 institutions.

During its 2010 kickoff, it got 731 volunteers from 19 companies.

The kickoff is divided into various segments for volunteers to participate in: the tree planting proper and various breakout sessions that will follow after it.

Volunteers are encouraged to take part in either of the two environmental education sessions—a mini-lecture on wildlife photography and bird watching by Godfrey Jakosalem, and an Envi Quiz Bowl organized by Lisa Paguntalan.

Both speakers are from the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., a national non-government organization that promotes conservation of biodiversity in various regions of the country.

Pupils from barangay Tabunan were also invited to the kickoff for a read-along session organized with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on how to appreciate, conserve and protect the watersheds.

More than 200 volunteers already pledged to join the kickoff on June 23.

Assembly for the kickoff event will be at Asiatown IT Park of Cebu City from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

The Cebu Hillylands is a 27,000-hectare lot composed of five watershed and protected areas that span Central Cebu. It is the major source of potable water for Metro Cebu as well as home to various endemic plant and animal species and subspecies.

PBSP, the largest corporate-led foundation in the country that leads the practice of corporate social responsibility, is inviting more volunteers to join the kickoff and the rest of the Saturdays for the caravan.

Companies and individuals can also adopt a hectare for reforestation or by bringing employee volunteers on any scheduled Saturday of the annual caravan.

Interested companies and volunteers may contact Malu Largo of PBSP at 232-5283 or 232-5270 or email her at [email protected] or [email protected].