San Miguel Corporation’s Team Malasakit volunteers trek to Mount Purro in Antipolo City on Saturday, June 21, to plant at least 2,000 seedlings of native tree species.
Employees of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) have so far planted or donated a total of 98,296 seedlings across the country, in support of the company’s continuing efforts to help reduce flood risks, improve air and water quality, and revive critical forest areas.
Since 2024, 2,457 SMC employees have joined tree-planting activities in 48 locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, through the company’s Team Malasakit program — which engages employees in community and environmental initiatives throughout the year.
The latest activity, in celebration of Team Malasakit’s 10th year and Philippine Arbor Day, was held at Mount Purro Nature Reserve (MPNR) in Antipolo City. Some 225 SMC employee-volunteers planted seedlings of narra, lawaan, banaba, coffee, and other native trees, bringing SMC’s total trees planted in the area to 4,600. Mount Purro is part of the Sierra Madre mountain range and helps protect Metro Manila and Rizal from flooding.
At the same site last year, trees planted by SMC volunteers recorded an 80% survival rate.
“Tree planting, when done consistently and at scale, makes a big difference. I’m grateful to our people for continuing to take part in this effort,” said SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
For the rest of the year, SMC has scheduled 21 volunteer-led activations involving 1,351 employee volunteers who are expected to contribute over 4,000 hours planting at least 7,675 seedlings across multiple provinces.
These employee-led efforts complement SMC’s larger reforestation program, including San Miguel Global Power’s Project 747, which has already planted over 6.5 million trees and mangroves in various forestlands and coastal areas in the country, with a survival rate of 91% for upland trees and 89% for mangrove propagules. The project is now on track to exceed its original target of planting 7 million trees over 7 years, covering both land and coastal ecosystems.
In addition to planting activities, SMC’s San Miguel Properties Inc. (SMPI) has pledged to donate 80,000 seedlings to support reforestation in Bataan.
“We are thankful that we now have San Miguel with us, because we are not just planting trees — we are planting love for the environment. We don’t just plant and leave. We plant and return,” MPNR founder Alberto “Toto” Malvar said.
