MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has formed a strategic alliance with GCash, the Philippines’ finance super app, to undertake an ambitious environmental restoration project that merges science, community empowerment, and digital engagement.
The landmark partnership aims to transform 250 hectares of degraded lands within the Mount Makiling Georeserve and Sierra Madre mountain range, often called Luzon’s ecological backbone through the planting of at least 130,000 forest and fruit trees by 2029, with an additional 25,000 seedlings earmarked for urban and roadside greening initiatives.
“Sierra Madre is one of our last frontiers when it comes to [our remaining] intact forests,” shared UPLB-CFNR Dean Marlo D. Mendoza, MDM. [This] is rich in terms of biodiversity [and is] very high in endemism, which means a lot of species that are in Sierra Madre can only be found there or [can be found in] the Philippines and not other parts of the world.”
The collaboration leverages UPLB’s scientific prowess in identifying climate-appropriate native species such as Mayapis, Apitong, White Lauan, and Palosapis for forest regeneration, and Salingogon, Katmon, and Aunasin for urban settings against GCash’s massive digital community of 22 million GForest Green Heroes.
What distinguishes this initiative from conventional reforestation efforts is its human-centered approach. The project design places local communities such as women’s groups and people’s organizations at the heart of implementation, transforming them from passive beneficiaries into active environmental stewards with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
CJ Alegre, GCash Head for Sustainability, added: “At GCash, we believe that technology can be a powerful tool for positive change.”
By transforming degraded lands into thriving ecosystems while simultaneously engaging millions of digital citizens in environmental action, the UPLB-GCash partnership offers a compelling case study in how strategic collaborations can drive both ecological restoration and community empowerment in the Philippine context.
