PTT revives denuded forest in Bataan; 300 volunteers join 2nd leg of tree-planting
Because of illegal logging, a large part of the forest within the Bataan National Park lost its precious trees. But thanks to
PTTPC,
DENR, National Commission for Indigenous People, the National Research Council of the Philippines, the Bataan Peninsula State University, Mga Bayani ng Kalikasan,
Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), Municipality of Morong, Bataan and Wide Out Technology, the denuded forest is slowly turning green again as 300 volunteers trekked the mountain last July 27 to plant more seedlings.
Excerpts from the Welcome Remarks of PTTPC President and CEO Wisarn Chawalitanon:
Today, we are embarking on yet another worthy undertaking aligned to our vision of helping preserve the environment. It is PTT Philippines' way of giving back to our mother earth and to the Philippines for embracing us become one with the Filipino community.
As everyone knows, PTT is a Thai-owned company that came here in the Philippines not only to do business but is committed to be with Filipino people in nation-building. This led us to create the PTT Philippines Foundation in 2007 for us to take an active role in community development, including the protection and preservation of the environment.
He compared the many similarities of the Filipinos with the Thai and that motivated the PTT group to do business here, as well as push their "Gas Up For A Tree" Project.
Since our launching in May, when we made our first tree-planting activity in this area, we now have close to 1,000 growing trees here. Thanks to our stakeholders and supporters for helping us make this endeavor possible. I am particularly referring to our partners from the national and local government, the NGOs, the Diplomatic Community, our Aeta Brothers from the Magbukun Tribe, all other volunteers including our own employees, and the consumers, especially those motorists who visited our service stations and committed themselves to plant at least one tree for their P1,000 gas up.
Let us continue doing our share for this. Nobody would love our abode. Nobody would love our environment. Nobody would take care of our Mother Earth-- but us. Therefore, it is a great challenge for us to take the lead in protecting and preserving the environment.
