Tree time at Hamilo Coast

MANILA, Philippines - Hamilo Coast, SM Land’s premier residential leisure development in Nasugbu, Batangas, recently hosted an environmental initiative dubbed “Tree Time: Helping Keep Our Earth Green.”

The activity brought together affiliates within the SM group of companies in a tree-planting effort to help preserve the rich, natural environment of Hamilo Coast, which spans hectares of lush mountains, 25 kilometers of coastline, and 13 unique coves.

The event was an initiative of SM Land, SM Supermarket, and SM Foundation. Along with SM executives and employees, farmer representatives from the Nasugbu communities, members of the KMK local community cooperative, local government officials, and other volunteers from Hamilo Coast’s Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club participated in the worthwhile endeavor.

SM Supermarket donated more than 1,000 seedlings, which were procured with the proceeds from its My Own Bag (MOB) reusable eco-bag campaign. The MOB encourages shoppers to use their reusable eco-bags every Wednesday at SM Supermarket, Hypermarket and Save More branches for them to earn additional rewards points on their SM Advantage cards. Shoppers are required to pay P1 per plastic bag if they do not use eco-bags on these days.

The earnings generated from plastic bags went to the procurement of the seedlings. They were then donated to SM Foundation for mobilization particularly in the communities that it serves such as the families within the communities of Nasugbu, Batangas where Hamilo Coast is located. Previously, more than 10,000 seedlings have already been planted in Nasugbu communities by SM Foundation.

Made possible with support from WWF-Philippines and Pepsi, the event also featured WWF giving a short and highly informative talk on environmental facts and trivia, while providing valuable guidance on the proper methods of tree planting.

“It is an honor for Hamilo Coast to welcome our SM affiliates, as well as volunteers and community stakeholders, in this simple but meaningful event,” said Tristan dela Rosa, SM Land senior vice president for sales and marketing. “Hamilo Coast is a fitting venue to host this endeavor. As SM Land’s maiden leisure development that leverages on the grandness of the location’s natural environment, it showcases as well SM’s commitment to preserve such natural wealth.”

SM Land has worked closely with WWF-Philippines since the inception of the project to ensure genuinely sustainable development and proactive measures specifically in the areas of coastal resource management, solid waste management, and the eventual use of renewable sources of energy as much as possible.

“We hope to engage more and more of our consumers to participate in these kinds of ‘green’ efforts,” added Gloria Cudala, vice president for operations of SM Supermarket.

With the MOB campaign, SM shoppers indirectly but significantly contribute to SM’s environmental initiatives and SM Foundation’s projects.