PLDT, Smart, NTT Docomo renew alliance for the environment

MANILA, Philippines - Telecoms leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) recently renewed its tree planting agreement with Japan’s leading mobile communications company NTT Docomo, Inc. for another three years.

This will bring additional funding support from NTT Docomo, which has reached ¥9M in the past three years, for the tree planting program.

In 2008, NTT Docomo forged an agreement with the PLDT Group to embark on a three-year tree planting program.

Previously, the Japanese mobile company’s reforestation efforts have been focused in Japan under the company’s own forest maintenance program, docomo Woods.

“NTT Docomo is pleased with the results of the three-year tree planting agreement with PLDT, Smart and PSF. We believe that the tree planting activities helps mitigate global warming and protect biodiversity by carbon emission reduction on a global scale, as well as preserve water sources of communities and protect Filipino communities against natural disasters. We fully support the tree planting efforts led by the country’s leading telecoms companies, said NTT Docomo Managing Director of Corporate Citizenship Department Katsuhiro Nakamura.

“We are honored that NTT Docomo has renewed its support of our reforestation efforts.  We see this as a stamp of approval on the way we have been involving communities in our tree planting efforts to make it more sustainable,” said PLDT and Smart Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto.

This year, Smart intends to intensify its tree planting efforts in areas in Antipolo that are part of the Marikina Watershed, source of the floodwaters that affected Metro Manila during Ondoy. Smart presently serves as the lead network builder and resource mobilizer spearheading the Marikina Watershed Initiative of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF).

Smart’s initiatives to help increase the country’s forest cover are part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program and community service program Kabalikat.