In support of the DENR’s National Greening Program (NGP), Republic Cement has reforested over 700 hectares in different communities situated near its facilities from 2013 to 2016 that has led in the stewardship of these areas in partnership with six upland People’s Organizations.
Over 400 families living in these communities have benefited from the livelihood for the care and maintenance of these reforestation areas and from the fruit-bearing trees and intercropped plants grown in the areas.
Republic Cement strengthens its drive for environmental responsibility with the conduct of nationwide greening initiatives. The efforts are part of the company’s recently introduced iSTAND4 program, its commitment to CSR and sustainability leadership.
Such is the company’s active participation in the NGP, which seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares across the country to attain sustainable human development and ecological security.
“Responsible stewardship of our natural resources has always been at the heart of our operations,” said Renato Sunico, president of Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. “Reforestation activities are an integral part of our environmental program and reflect our support of the country’s sustainability goals.”
To complement these initiatives in the upland areas, Republic Cement has also partnered with the local environment offices for the rehabilitation of mangrove forests in coastal areas in Visayas and Mindanao where they have operations. Its Danao and Iligan plants worked hand in hand with stakeholders, including the local barangay councils to plant a total of 20,000 red mangrove propagules.
Supporting the government’s Mangrove Reforestation Program, the activity aims to restore the health of the mangrove forests located in Brgy. Dancar in Cebu City and Bayug Island in Iligan City that were devastated by typhoons Sendong and Yolanda.
As part of its Luzon greening initiatives, Republic Cement’s Teresa plant and Makati head office joined the Rizal provincial government’s bamboo planting activity in celebration of the province’s 115th anniversary. Planting young bamboo plants along the Paenaan River, the project aims to regulate water levels and control soil erosion in the area while providing potential food source and handicraft raw materials for the local community.