THE Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) has received a major boost with the entry of a new institutional partner – QBE Insurance Group – which has allotted ₱3.7 million for various projects of the foundation highlighted by the ground-breaking of the QBE Green SanQtuary Park on March 11 at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City.
Present during the event were MTFI chairman Emeritus and former MWSS administrator Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco (ret), MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco, and officers of the Australia-based QBE Insurance Group namely, Samir Kumar,; Arthur Araña, Jo Cruz, Donna Grande, Ariel Magtoto, Ton Cabiao, and, Kai Cabuslay.
In his, Gen. Velasco welcomed the establishment of the QBE Green Park “that will not only serve as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the concrete jungle, nor simply a place where children can play and create their own adventure, but also as a place where everyone one, young and old, can reconnect with nature and rejuvenate the soul.”
For his part, Samir Kumar expressed elation over the partnership with the MTFI even as he committed to support various projects and activities that are aligned with sustainability, climate change and the journey to planting 10 million more trees until 2030.
“QBE Insurance Group through its QBE Foundation aims to improve the resilience and preparedness of communities through long-term partnerships. With its focus on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities, QBE Foundation has its forest for water and environmental protection programs. Both programs involve tree and mangrove planting activities,” Kumar said.
The QBE Green Park will cover 1,600 square meters in the 5-hectare area allotted by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to MTFI.
As envisioned, the park will have outdoor playground equipment such as slides, covered areas with seats for park visitors, and greenhouses.
The greenhouses will accommodate seedlings of endemic trees and fruit-bearing trees.
These seedlings will be used by QBE Foundation in its tree planting activity and other partner stakeholders of the foundation.
Tree-planting is one of QBE’s corporate social responsibility projects aimed at environment protection.
The use of endemic trees in reforestation was deemed noteworthy.
While the Philippines is considered a country with a high flora endemism, it is threatened by anthropogenic impact endangering the existence of endemic species.