One. Million. Trees! Together with Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) and GCash, HOPE coconut trees are now available on GForest, allowing users of the e-banking app to plant virtual trees in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani.
GForest is an environmental protection feature on the GCash app that allows users to take an active role in helping mother nature through tree planting. GCash users can do so by collecting enough green energy to plant virtual trees. For every virtual tree planted, CNPF, GCash, and HOPE then plant a real coconut tree, which users may select on the app. GForest users earn green energy points by using various cashless services of GCash. This marks the first time that a GForest tree-planting initiative will be implemented in Mindanao, helping thousands of farmers in the region.
With the plan to plant 1 million coconut trees within two years, coconut farmers in Mindanao get the benefit of improved farming productivity and profitability. It will also have a positive effect on female farmers, who comprise 40% of the farmers in the program. The project will cover the areas of Banga, Surallah, Norala, Koronadal, General Santos City, Malungon, Glan, Alabel, Malapatan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, Polomolok, Tampakan, and Tupi.
“We are excited to partner with HOPE and Century Pacific as we work together to promote environmental sustainability, and support farmers in South Cotabato and Sarangani. We are committed to promoting environmental stewardship through GForest, as we seamlessly integrate this with GCash’s innovative cashless technology,” said GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.
“Caring for our planet and the communities we serve is best done through partnerships. Synergies are created and the impact becomes magnified. We’re happy to have GCash and HOPE along with us on our journey to becoming a more sustainable and responsible company,” said Noel Tempongko, Vice President and General Manager of CNPF’s coconut division.
HOPE has been working to provide agriculture interventions such as replanting, farmer training, intercropping, and increasing market access to smallholder farmers in Mindanao since 2014. To date, they have distributed over 100,000 quality seedlings to over 10,000 smallholder farmers in the region.
“We are grateful for this partnership with GCash and Century Pacific as it expands our reach and intensifies our efforts toward sustainability and environmental protection. Through this initiative, we are able to reach out to millions of GCash users, encouraging them to preserve the environment while helping to support smallholder farmers,” said Nanette Medved-Po, HOPE chairperson and president.
