Photo credit: Petron

Petron Corporation has committed to reforesting 30 hectares within the Limay Watershed in Barangay Duale, Bataan, in a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the provincial government, and the local government of Limay.

The memorandum of agreement, signed on December 18 at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City, marks the latest expansion of Petron’s flagship environmental program, *Puno ng Buhay*, which aims to reduce the company’s ecological footprint through carbon capture and nature-based solutions.

Under the agreement, Petron, together with the Municipality of Limay and its Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), will lead efforts to restore forest cover, protect upland ecosystems, and assess the area’s carbon sequestration potential. 

Technical support will be provided by the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources, while local residents and members of SAMASAKA (Samahang Magsasaka sa Kabundukan ng Limay Bataan Inc.) will be engaged in restoration and maintenance activities.

Petron General Manager Lubin B. Nepomuceno highlighted the initiative’s role in environmental stewardship, while DENR Secretary Raphael PM. Lotilla, Bataan Board Member Angelito Sunga (representing Governor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III), and Limay’s Special Assistant to the Mayor Christian Torio (representing Mayor Richie Jason D. David) also attended the signing. SAMASAKA Chairman Jaime B. Dayap represented the local farmers’ organization.

Since its launch, *Puno ng Buhay* has grown into a nationwide movement, with over a million trees and mangroves planted across the country through employee volunteers and local communities. 

In Bataan, Petron’s environmental efforts extend beyond reforestation, encompassing shoreline clean-ups, fish sanctuary protection, and support for the province’s Pawikan Conservation and Protection Program.

How do you see corporate-led reforestation shaping the country’s environmental and energy landscape? Join the discussion and share your insights.

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