RAFI, Insular Foundation partner to plant 10,000 Native Trees

Fueled by the urgency to alleviate the harmful effects of climate change, the Ramon  Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., through its One To Tree (OTT) Program (RAFI OTT) partners  with Insular Foundation Inc. to plant 10,000 native tree seedlings in Catmon, Cebu. 

The “Growing lnLife: Native Tree Growing Project” aims to recover the tree cover lost  and provide income augmentation for partner farmers. RAFI OTT will engage  communities to protect and rehabilitate the environment by establishing native tree  nurseries and tree plantations in communities located in the Municipality of Catmon,  Cebu. 

“It is a fact that climate change is immensely felt around the world. We are glad that this  partnership with Insular Foundation is geared to help minimize its effects on our planet.  This is more than just the usual tree growing activity because we want to achieve  sustainability with it. Through the nurseries and plantations, we will promote protection  of the environment while elevating the lives of the members of the communities  especially the farmers. We at RAFI OTT want to establish that ‘bayanihan’ concept. We  want to urge everyone in the community to participate in this collective effort to uplift  and save the Earth,” said Anton Dignadice, Executive Director of RAFI One To Tree. 

Driven with the shared vision for a sustainable environment, Insular Foundation and  RAFI OTT signed a partnership agreement on April 22, 2022, held at the Insular Life  Corporate Centre, Alabang, Muntinlupa, to support the sustainable development in  Catmon, Cebu. As implementing partner, RAFI OTT will conduct technical trainings to  assist partner communities to maintain production and growth of the seedlings planted. 

“We are very happy to have found RAFI OTT, in our search for a suitable partner to  give our own contribution to the effort of environment sustainability through the planting  and growing 10,000 native trees,” said Ana Maria R. Soriano, Executive Director of  Insular Foundation at the contract signing event.  

With the plan to expand their sustainable environment advocacy, Insular Foundation,  Inc. encourages its employees, agents as well as the partner site, the Municipality of Catmon, Cebu to develop deep environmental consciousness, as well as a changed  mindset and lifestyle. The foundation continues to promote a sense of “tunay na  pagbabago at tunay na malasakit” for the environment. 

“With the 10,000 trees, at least we can be part of the conservation effort that you (RAFI OTT) have been doing in Cebu. We can’t do this alone; we build on what RAFI has  started.  We are supplementing so that in totality, we don’t look at it as Insular  Foundation’s impact, but of course all the organizations that are pitching with their  efforts together with RAFI,” said Teresita Melad, Program Manager of Insular  Foundation, Inc. 

True to the bayanihan spirit for a sustainable environment, RAFI OTT will work closely  with Insular Foundation, Inc., community tree growing partners, and the Municipality of  Catmon, Cebu for the implementation of the project and the successful set-up and  production of 10,000 native tree seedlings. The Growing lnLife: Native Tree Growing  Project will run for 32 months and see project completion by September 2024. 

One To Tree (RAFI-OTT, formerly known as RAFI Biodiversity Conservation Unit  (BCU)), has been active in reforestation and conservation for over two decades and  has achieved more than 80% survival rate for native tree growing. RAFI-OTT also assists  companies in the service delivery of Environmental Compliance Certificate  requirements set by the Philippine Government, as well as helping them achieve carbon  sequestration and biodiversity conservation goals.   

The Insular Foundation is the corporate social responsibility subsidiary of Insular Life, and has  been making a difference in Philippine society for more than 50 years through its flagship  education program, The Insular Gold Eagle College Scholarship Grant, and its many other programs that advocate for social and economic mobility, sustainable environment, and  employee volunteerism.

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