Feature: Binhi fulfills commitment to help combat climate change in RP
“Binhi” reinvents the whole idea of reforestation by rescuing and securing the native but endangered premium tree species in the Philippines. “Binhi” aims to bring back the vanishing trees by establishing Mother Trees in locations that will be protected and pampered by partners all over the 81 provinces of the country.
“Binhi,” is a greening program of Mr. Oscar Lopez, chairman of the Lopez Group, Inc., which started in December 2008 as part of the Lopez Family”s commitment to action in the Clinton Global Initiative and as EDC”s action to help combat climate change in the Philippines.
“Binhi” has a four-pronged strategy: the Tree for the Future or urban forestation of prime endangered Philippine Tree Species; Tree for Food or livelihood by re-vegetating open and denuded forest lands; Tree for Life or assisting natural regeneration by bridging forest gaps; and Tree for Leisure or on-site nature appreciation by sprouting ecotourism forest parks.
Under the Tree for the Future strategy, EDC will undertake forestation of prime endangered Philippine Tree Species. EDC shall grow a thousand forests from a single acorn planted and nurtured at the heart of the city, by the city folks themselves.
The target is the establishment of forest parks or urban reforestation in the 81 provinces of the Philippines.
The primary goal of Binhi”s Tree for the Future is for every Filipino to develop the passion to preserve and protect high value but endangered Philippine trees. Planting these vanishing hardwood species will also create awareness about such tree species as they will be propagated in public parks, school grounds, and leisure estates nationwide.
Sustainable partnership with the local government units, Department of Education, universities and colleges and non-governmental organizations and city-based groups is encouraged to be forged in this particular component. The partners will help safeguard the tree parks to ensure the survival of the endangered premium endemic species. This could very well be a great contribution to environmental preservation.
Every tree planted would have individual signboards indicating its unique features or story, for better appreciation of the public.
Under the Tree for Food Strategy, livelihood will be generated by re-vegetating open and denuded forest lands. Forest plantations or agroforestry farms under the Integrated Forest Management Agreement will be established in the five geothermal sites of Energy Development Corporation, Leyte, Albay/Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and North Kidapawan.
“Binhi”s” Tree for Food component will establish a total of 5,000-hectare plantation over a period of ten (10) years or 500 hectares annually in these provinces. Tree for Food will engage farmers” associations and community organizations to cultivate tree farms in target areas such as denuded and logged-ever forest lands, open lands/grasslands, brushlands and inadequately stocked areas; and areas covered by Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) issued by DENR to people”s organizations (POs).
When the tree farms mature, the beneficiary organizations will share the proceeds from the sale of wood products while earmarking another amount to replant the harvested compartments of the plantation. This will be sustained by adopting a yield management scheme like rotation cutting.
Under the Tree for Life strategy, the EDC hopes to assist natural regeneration by bridging forest gaps. Rainforestation farming will be the centrepiece strategy of Tree for Life. EDC will bridge the forest gaps between important mountain systems to bring back the once robust biodiversity. Select areas will be designated as protection zones for conservation and biodiversity study with premier institutions like the University of the Philippines. These forest bridges will be grown to mimic the structure and function of natural systems.
Community involvement will be vital in Tree for Life. They will be partners from seedling production to maintenance and protection. Forest Bridges will be established in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) and the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).
Finally, the Tree for Leisure strategy aims for on-site nature appreciation by sprouting ecotourism forest parks. Tree for Leisure will preserve the natural beauty and ambience forests by designating them as ecotourism spots.
In collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Local Government Units (LGUs), EDC will convert select areas in its geothermal project sites into ecotourism destinations.
These geothermal ecotourism havens will encourage Filipinos to commune more often with nature, either for meditation, trekking, recreation or simply for relaxation – this while providing sanctuary to wildlife species.
For instance, EDC”s geothermal project site in Bacman has been ecotourism-certified by the DOT and it houses the world”s largest fruit bat that can only be found in the Philippines, the golden-crowned flying fox acerodon jubatus and the flying fox pteropus vampyrus.
Binhi is the Filipino word for germling, embryo or seed. In essence, Binhi aims to create a ripple effect by modeling a corporate green movement in the Philippine business community. (PIA 
PGMA’s SONA project, RP’s tallest bridge, now rises; turnover in August
This time, Eastern Visayas will also be known as the home of the tallest bridge in the country, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA Project, the Agas-Agas Bridge, has been completed before the end of July and is set to be turned over in the early part of August 2009.
The Agas-Agas Bridge located at Barangay Kahupian, Sogod, Southern Leyte, is an engineering masterpiece, the first-ever in the country that would be supported by 85-meter piers with heights equivalent to a 25-story building.
In an interview with Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 Director Angelito Twano, he said that the P995 million project was undertaken by the Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., and was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency- Official Development Assistance under the second phase of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project.
Built over a gorge on the Agas-Agas mountain, the bridge majestically spans 1.5 kilometers in a breathtaking view, connecting mountains of lush forest abundant with flora and fauna.
Even DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was so struck by the spectacular panorama of the Agas Agas Bridge that he ordered the construction of a viewing deck at the middle part of the bridge so that motorists will be able to better appreciate the view of the surrounding mountainous areas and forests.
Having a keen eye for beauty, Secretary Ebdane saw the tourism potential of the area. He said that the bridge could in the future be used for bungee jumping, for adventure tourism. He also ordered the construction of comfort rooms and sheds on both sides of the bridge where weary motorists can relax and rest.
Right now, a parking space has been developed as the area has been found to be a very good picnic or camping site.
“Because it is considered as an engineering feat in the country, the Agas-Agas Bridge has the potential of becoming a tourist destination in Eastern Visayas,” Secretary Ebdane said.
The construction of the bridge was seen as a permanent solution to the natural movements of loose soil aggregates, or landslides, in this mountainous area during rainy days reportedly due to a fault line that hinder traffic when the highway is blocked, sometimes resulting to loss of lives and properties.
The project was included in the rehabilitation of Daang Maharlika Project under the “Super-Regions” concept of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inasmuch as the road network served as a vital link connecting Luzon and Mindanao via the Maharlika highway through the Liloan Ferry Terminal and the newly completed ferry terminal in Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte. (PIA
