SM Foundation Inc. through its Assistant Vice President for Livelihood and Outreach Program Cristie Angeles led the turnover of the 10,000 pine trees and fruit bearing trees to the LMCBB Gold Panners Association members which were planted last June 2013 at Liwliw, Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet as part of the Grow A Million Trees (GAMT) project of SM Foundation.
Grow A Million Trees (GAMT) was sparked by Join the M.O.B (My Own Bag), SM Markets’ green initiative that promotes the habit of reusing shopping bags. The funds collected from M.O.B days as well as pledges from other SM companies and partners are being used to grow a million trees in key DENR-protected areas and in identified national greening program sites.
In 2013, SM Markets, in partnership with SM Foundation and other SM companies and affiliates, focused on rebuilding the environment with its Grow a Million Trees which has already passed the halfway mark with 536,479 trees planted and grown in DENR protected areas in support of their National Greening Program, like Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, Naga, Negros Occidental, Davao, Tacloban, Bulacan, Cebu, Antipolo, Samar, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, Zambales, and General Santos City.
Also, with the determination and perseverance of the LMCBB Gold Panners Association members, SM Foundation is thankful despite all the challenges– typhoons, El Nino, and fires– SMFI has turned over 100% of the coffee, dapdap, and pine trees that were planted last 2013.
Ms. Cristie Angeles said that she is very happy that SM’s advocacy to regreen the Earth did not stop but instead it has rippled and inspired more people to join the movement. ‘’We are no longer just talking about planting trees but we are changing lives too and we hope that the recipients of the trees, would be able to sustain their own livelihood using the bounty of those trees donated,’’ she added.
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