UPS employees plant mangroves in Cordova

FOR its 10th annual Global Volunteer Month, UPS Philippines employees in Cebu organized a mangrove planting and coastal clean-up activity in Cordova town.

Eighty-five UPS employees and their families participated in the recently concluded event.

Mangrove plantations are home to various species of fishes. Certain species of mangroves can also be used for fuel and for building materials.

According to UPS Philippines, the activity served as an opportunity for employees to do their share in protecting the marine habitat.

“The UPS Foundation and UPS Philippines are both dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability,” said Tim Gohoc, managing director of UPS Philippines.

“Through our efforts, we hope that more people would be encouraged to take an active role in protecting the environment and in preserving the country’s rich diverse ecosystems.”

environmental sustainability

The Global Volunteer Month initiative is part of UPS’s continuing commitment to environmental sustainability.

The UPS Foundation had previously awarded a US$10,000 grant to the World Wildlife Fund for My1Thing, a program to educate Filipinos on the impacts of climate change.

The foundation also awarded a US$40,000 grant for “Simple Steps for Smarter Living,” an environmental life skills education program to be implemented in 20 public high schools in urban areas throughout the Philippines.

It also distributed more than US$1.7 million in grants to about 50 non-profit organizations within the Asia Pacific region in 2012.

Many of these grant beneficiaries were organizations with UPS employee volunteers.

This year’s UPS Global Volunteer Month activities in Manila also focused on environment-related efforts, and sought awareness among the youth.

In Asia, about 5,700 employees, with their families and friends, rendered more than 26,000 hours of voluntary service.