SM volunteers participate in ‘Grow a Million Trees‘ mangrove planting

MANILA, Philippines - Overcast skies and forecast of heavy rains due to a typhoon did not dampen the resolve of volunteers from SM City Batangas, SM City Lipa, SM Supermarket, and MENRO of Calatagan to participate in the mangrove planting activity in Sitio Burit, Barangay Tanagan, Calatagan, Batangas. 

Led by SMFI AVP for Livelihood and Outreach Program Cristie Angeles, volunteers planted 5,000 propagules with the assistance of Bataha Advocates of Nature’s Conservation Alliance (BANCA).

The mangrove planting is in line with SM Foundation’s Grow A Million Trees project, a project to support the government’s National Greening Program.

Aside from SM Supermalls, it is  participated in by SM Supermarket, Hypermart and Savemore, SM Land, SM Department, SM Prime Holdings Inc., ACE Hardware, SM Store, Costa del Hamilo, Inc., Manila Southcoast and Development Corporation, SM Hotels, and other affiliates.

Under the project, 20 hectares are to be planted with 10,000 seedlings.  Seedlings take from three to four months to prepare and are sourced from partner NGOs  in the community. Thus, the community is provided a source of livelihood.

Volunteers are taught the importance of planting and the proper way to plant the seedlings. Areas planted under SM’s Grow A Million Trees project are monitored by SM for three years to ensure the growth of the young trees.  Eventually, these areas are turned over to the DENR.