Philippine Power Company Plants 153,660 Trees in Iloilo

Meralco PowerGen Corporation is turning a promise into a forest, one sapling at a time.

The energy company just launched Phase II of its Handumanan Reforestation Project in Lambunao, Iloilo, committing 10 million pesos (about $175,000) to plant 153,660 native trees over the next four years. The new phase will restore 80 hectares of land with endemic, indigenous, and agroforestry species chosen to thrive in the local ecosystem.

This isn't the company's first rodeo. Since 2009, MGEN has already planted 845,726 trees and mangroves across 256 hectares in the Panay region. Their first Handumanan phase alone planted over 522,000 trees on 150 hectares.

The project partners with West Visayas State University and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure the trees actually survive and thrive. Monitoring will continue throughout the four-year timeline to track growth and ecosystem recovery.

The initiative feeds into Meralco's ambitious nationwide goal: planting five million trees by 2030 as part of their One for Trees Program.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond capturing carbon, the reforestation project is reviving habitats for native wildlife that disappeared as forests shrank. Birds, insects, and small mammals are already returning to areas replanted in Phase I.

Local communities benefit too. The project creates paid positions for tree planting, maintenance, and monitoring. Agroforestry components mean families can eventually harvest sustainable crops alongside conservation species.

"Every tree we plant is a promise of cleaner air, richer biodiversity, and a healthier planet," said MGEN President Felino Bernardo at the signing ceremony. "We are not just building forests; we are building hope."

The restored forests will also protect watersheds that communities depend on for drinking water and agriculture. As roots take hold and canopy coverage expands, the land becomes more resilient against erosion and flooding during typhoon season.

With climate challenges mounting across the Philippines, corporate reforestation at this scale offers a model other companies can follow. One tree at a time, the vision of a greener tomorrow takes root today.