Lopez-led geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) continues to save more endangered native trees as it officially collaborates with non-government organization Philippine Parks and Biodiversity (PH Parks), its newest partner under the BINHI program.
PH Parks is a non-profit and non-government organization that focuses on conserving and protecting Philippine biodiversity by empowering rangers and local grassroots communities. They promote the sustainable development of parks, protected areas, and the restoration of ecosystems for present and future generations.
In a ceremonial memorandum of agreement (signing) on Friday (21 March) held via Zoom, EDC and PH Parks officially seal their collaboration that further strengthens both of their goals to conserve and protect the environment.
“Since the start of the BINHI project in 2008, we’re always looking for partners like the PH Parks. We realize that the task is enormous, like what we always say it’s like finding a needle in the haystack. Thus, we need more like-minded organizations who share the same commitment to a greener Philippines by working to ensure the abundance of native tree species,” says Regina Victoria Pascual, EDC’s Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate Support Functions Group.
Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate for the planting, growing, and protecting of threatened native tree species. On top of that, there will be a joint effort to establish a BINHI Tree Park or arboretum around the country and in-situ conservation in various parts of Palawan.
In-situ conservation is the process of conserving ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings.
In this particular conservation project with PH Parks, the project will focus on the rare and threatened tree species in Palawan like Palawan Narig (Vatica mangachapoi ssp. obtusifolia) and Narig-laot (Vatica maritima) and other priority species under the BINHI program.
PH Parks Managing Director Marinella Lomotan expressed her gratitude with EDC for their newest collaboration and partnership as one of the crucial steps in championing the Generation Restoration Philippine Movement. “We have a lot of similarities and we believe that the synergy will really be fruitful for both because it will advance outcomes and the impact we hope to make around the country. We adopt a multi-stakeholder and dynamic approach in conservation. We believe we can not do it alone and that is why partnerships such as this one with EDC is very important,” Lomotan says.
“We empower our local grassroots communities and our rangers to be involved and hopefully inspire an action of restoration and also a movement of conservation in the Philippines. And we believe that our pillars are in line with EDC as well. So given how we’ve been partnering, we have seen our synergies with EDC in our partnership, and I’m very hopeful for what’s to come because it’s really something that can multiply our impact,” Lomotan adds.
Moreover, EDC will provide seedlings and technical assistance for the protection and maintenance of the tree species in the arboretum while PH Parks will conduct necessary communication and agreements to different stakeholders and Undertake preparatory activities & long-term protection and maintenance of the planted trees
PH Parks is the 187th partner of EDC to date since it started its BINHI program in 2008. They are also the third partner to have an in-situ project collaboration — next to the Department of Natural Resources – Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) and the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay and DENR Region IX.
EDC’s over 1,480MW total installed capacity accounts for 20% percent of the country’s total installed RE capacity while its almost 1200MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the Philippines on the map as the 3rd largest geothermal producer in the world.
