The Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC) recently launched a major environmental initiative to plant more than one million trees over the next five years, covering over 1,200 hectares across seven provinces in Luzon.
The Path to a Million Trees Begins with a Thousand Seedlings
The Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC), Southeast Asia’s pioneering commercial geothermal energy provider, officially launched its “1 Million Trees” regreening initiative with the ceremonial planting of 1,000 seedlings at PGPC’s geothermal reservation in Barangay Sugcad, Malinao, Albay. Leading the event was PGPC President Napoleon L. Saporsantos Jr. (standing 7th from the right), joined by key government and local officials: Tiwi Mayor Jose Morel Climaco, Malinao Mayor Sheryl Capus-Bilo, Malinao Vice Mayor Abe Cargullo, National Power Corporation Vice President Emmanuel Umali, DENR Assistant Regional Director Ronel Astor, and DOE Geothermal Management Division Chief Engineer Rainier Halcon. The program aims to plant one million trees in areas surrounding PGPC’s existing and prospective geothermal steam fields.
The re-greening program is designed to enhance forest cover and restore biodiversity in areas surrounding
PGPC’s existing and future geothermal steam fields. Target sites include the foothills of Mt. Makiling in Batangas and Laguna; Mt. Daklan in Benguet; Mt. Malinao in Albay; Mt. Labo in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Quezon; and selected areas of the Bicol Natural Park.
“This re-greening program underscores PGPC’s dual commitment to clean energy and the environment,” said Napoleon L. Saporsantos Jr., PGPC President. “It reflects our dedication to environmental stewardship as we develop new geothermal energy sources that will significantly contribute to the country’s renewable energy portfolio.”
The program was launched with a ceremonial planting of 1,000 seedlings at PGPC’s geothermal reservation in Barangay Sugcad, Malinao, Albay, with the participation of representatives from national government agencies, provincial and local government units, community and civic organizations, and PGPC executives and employees.
A pioneer in geothermal energy in Southeast Asia since 1979, PGPC currently operates two geothermal steam fields with a combined capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) in Tiwi, Albay and Mak-Ban in Batangas and Laguna. The company is actively expanding its footprint through exploration and development of new concession areas across Luzon, which are projected to contribute an additional 300 MW of baseload renewable energy in the coming years.
