Benguet complies with National Greening Program

Manila, Philippines - Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Benguet Corporation (BenguetCorp), is complying with the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is planting at least 40,000 tree seedlings. 

BNMI gathered 600 participants last Friday, July 13, to plant at least 40,000 tree seedlings in Brgy. Guisguis, Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

The initiative is part of the comprehensive greening plan of Zambales which aims to rehabilitate land that was denuded by rampant construction and illegal logging activities.

“BNMI’s support for the tree planting activity affirms its commitment to foster Executive Order No. 26, or the National Greening Program, which encourages companies to coordinate with local government units to realize the goal of planting 1.5 billion trees throughout 1.5 million hectares by year 2016. The initiative hopes to mitigate the negative effects of deforestation and environmental degradation, especially the escalating frequency and intensity of typhoons brought about by climate change,” the company said.

The DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has required BNMI to plant 500 tree seedlings per hectare in 100 hectares, or a total of 50,000 seedlings, within a three-year period beginning 2012.

To date, BNMI has planted a total of some 39,232 seedlings. With 40,000 tree seedlings planted on July 13, and another 20,000 seedlings on Benguetcorp’s 109th anniversary on August 12.

BNMI will be able to bring its total number of seedlings planted to nearly 100,000 by the end of 2012, exceeding the three-year MGB target by 98 percent. 

“BNMI aims to show that despite ongoing discussions regarding various mining issues in the Philippines, it remains committed to its advocacy of responsible mining by coordinating with the government to enact activities that promote participatory and integrated biodiversity enhancement, and proper land resource management, on top of providing its host communities with sustainable livelihood development and management programs,” BNMI said.

From 1903 to 2011, Benguetcorp has recorded a total of 23.7 million trees planted within and outside of its mining areas.