Tagaytay Highlands cited as 'Friend of Biodiversity'

MANILA, Philippines -  In recognition of the persistent efforts of Tagaytay Highlands to conserve and nurture the environment, the country’s premier leisure development complex received the Friend of Biodiversity Award from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity last year, during the “One Tree at a Time” tree-planting activity at the Tagaytay Highlands Country Club.

The Friend of Biodiversity Award is given to organizations and business sectors that exhibit a conscious effort in taking action for biodiversity conservation. Willy Ocier, founder of Tagaytay Highlands and vice chairman of Belle, received the award from the reputable organization.

In his acceptance speech, Ocier said that Tagaytay Highlands is especially designed to be a sanctuary where nature’s gift is conserved and nurtured, which is why apart from providing a premier destination, conducive for luxury living, Tagaytay Highlands remains steadfast in its commitment to initiate activities that will enrich the natural beauty of the leisure and residential complex.

In the last 16 years, Tagaytay Highlands has been consistently focusing on the importance of environment conservation, making it a deserving recipient of the award. A series of tree-planting activities has been conducted inside the exclusive complex for a greener Tagaytay Highlands to achieve Ocier’s vision of planting one million trees in 50 years inside the complex. Last year, Tagaytay Highlands moved to make the leisure destination a natural sanctuary by partnering with Lifestyle Asia magazine for the tree-planting activity Plant Hope Gardens. This year, it took its commitment to the next level by joining the global Green Wave Campaign with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and holding “Saving the World, One Tree at A Time” tree-planting activity where 200 fruit- bearing trees were planted by over 150 Tagaytay Highlands officers and employees. 

Aside from providing various species of birds and insects a new home, Tagaytay Highlands also contributes to energy conservation as it splits up the lighting of the street lights and turns on the lights only in the important areas to cut down on power usage during off-peak days. By replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent ones it has also reduced energy consumption by up to 60 percent. Tagaytay Highlands also promotes the use of renewable resources. The exclusive complex has its own sewerage treatment plant that converts wastewater to usable water that is being used for irrigation and the maintenance of Tagaytay Highlands and Tagaytay Midlands surrounding the landscaped areas.