The Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project (BMGP) partnered with the Philippine Army to protect and propagate threatened native trees under EDC’s flagship environmental program, BINHI.

EDC-BMGP and the Philippine Army inaugurated the BINHI Arboretum on July 25, 2019 at the Headquarters of the 903rd Infantry (Patriot) Brigade, 9ID, PA in San Rafael, Castilla, Sorsogon. The arboretum serves as a botanical collection and future seed source of rare and threatened Philippine native trees.

A total of 80 seedlings from 16 threatened native species were planted in the arboretum, which also serves as a save haven for these trees to grow into mother trees. Species planted include Mapilig, Mangkono, Bagoadlau, Malabayabas, Molave, Baguak morado, Tindalo, Ipil, Supa, and Banuyo. These species belong to the 96 rare and threatened native tree species prioritized by EDC under its BINHI program for protection and propagation, especially since these species have dwindled in number in the wild.

The BINHI program aims to propagate 96 identified rare and threatened native tree species. It is the only corporate-led environmental program to do so. Through the program, EDC has reforested over 9,500 hectares with these indigenous species. BINHI now has over 170 partners nationwide that help propagate these tree species. The BINHI arboretum is the company’s eleventh in the country.

“I hope the future generations will give importance to these trees,” Sorsogon provincial governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero mentioned in his message. “It is my hope that EDC will continue to with its mission of propagating these endemic trees that need protection. Thank you EDC for this project.”

“We are honored to have the Philippine Army as our 172nd partner. This new arboretum is our eleventh in the country,” EDC Corporate Social Responsibility Head Atty. Allan Barcena shared. “We hope that this partnership and this arboretum help make these native tree species grow and become more familiar to Sorsoganons.”

The 140-MW Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project, located in Manito, Albay and Sorsogon City, supplies clean and uninterrupted power to the Luzon grid.