The Aboitiz Foundation, together with community leaders, volunteers, and business partners, planted 700 bamboo seedlings along the Mananga River in Cebu on September 20 to mark World Bamboo Day and Philippine Bamboo Month, the start of the Foundation’s pledge to grow 10 million trees under its flagship CarbonPH program.
“This is about restoring watersheds, protecting riverbanks, and building resilience against climate change. Each seedling represents hope, protection, and sustainability for our communities,” said Aboitiz Foundation president Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar.
Dubbed the “green steel” of nature, bamboo is prized for its strength, rapid regeneration, and ecological benefits. It prevents soil erosion, absorbs up to five times more carbon dioxide than trees, and releases 35 percent more oxygen, while also serving as a sustainable raw material for local industries.
The initiative gained the support of Cebu City mayor Nestor Archival, Buot-Taup barangay captain Roselita Calina, Rudellyn Navarro of Talisay City, and Aboitiz business units including Aboitiz Equity Ventures, AboitizPower, Visayan Electric, Aboitiz Land, Aboitiz Construction, and Aboitiz Foods.
Through the Mananga River Riparian Greening Project, bamboo planting will help protect one of Cebu’s critical watersheds that supplies thousands of households. It also opens livelihood opportunities in furniture-making and bamboo-based products for local communities.
“At the Aboitiz Foundation, we believe true impact happens when people, government, and businesses work together. Today is proof of that partnership. The work we do here will not only strengthen our rivers but also secure a greener, safer Cebu for generations to come,” Hontiveros-Malvar added.
The bamboo planting forms part of the Foundation’s 10 Million Trees program, which will roll out across key areas nationwide. Through CarbonPH, these efforts aim to cut carbon emissions, restore biodiversity, and boost climate resilience in Filipino communities.
