MANILA, Philippines - Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom has turned over P1 million in check donation to the Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT) even as P300,000 more in pledges are set to follow soon. The amount will be used to put up 30 seedling nurseries to ensure the supply of tree saplings for the reforestation efforts in the Cordilleras.
With over 500 registered bikers joining the recent Globe Cordillera Challenge, Globe was able to raise P450,000 in registration fees.
In addition, Globe employees and the Globe Balik Baterya project donated P200,000 and P400,000, respectively to the cause.
Sponsors such as Choose Philippines and Huawei also gave P150,000 each.
“We are overwhelmed with the number of bikers who joined this year’s Globe Cordillera Challenge as it was more than double the number of participants we had last year. On top of that, there was also an outpour of support from our own employees and other concerned individuals and corporations. This shows that our efforts in the Cordilleras have finally gained traction. Globe Cordillera Challenge is not just a biking activity but an advocacy to save the environment and help the communities in the Cordilleras,†said Rob I. Nazal, head of Globe corporate social responsibility.
JP Alipio, executive director of CCT said: “We are thankful to Globe, to the bikers and sponsors, as well as to non-bikers who donated to our cause and made this event a success. When we started our work with the forests in 2008, we wanted the idea to be simple – to plant a tree, to build forests. Over a year ago, we decided to go back to the basics, starting with the seed, and grow the forests from there. And so with the help of Globe, we are again creating nurseries this year so we can have seedlings production centers for the community’s forest building needs situated right where they are needed most.â€
The seedling nurseries will be established through the CCT Roots and Shoots Nursery Seedling Program to support the enhancement of community watershed and prevent landslides in critical areas in the Cordillera mountain range.
The seedling nurseries will, likewise, provide a possible livelihood source for the public elementary schools and the communities where they will be housed.
The Cordillera mountain range is currently in a critical state as rampant deforestation massively reduced the forest cover to about 42 percent. This increased the local communities’ vulnerability to disasters and also reduced their capacity to sustain livelihood.
The situation prompted Globe to come up with the Globe Cordillera Challenge four years ago to raise the much-needed funds for reforestation activities.
Major sponsors for Globe Cordillera Challenge 4 are Choose Philippines, Huawei, Ayala Foundation, Inc. and Non-Pareil International Freight and Cargo Services, Inc. with Baguio Chronicle as media partner.
Other sponsors are Cordillera Coffee, Hill Station, and Messy Bessy. Official Bike Shop partners are Grantrail Cycles Makati and Beyond Outdoor Adventure.