Planting seeds of Hope: UnionBank volunteers help preserve the Sierra Madre Forest
By: Neil Patrick G. Nepomuceno
UnionBank, through its GoBeyond Communities projects, remains steadfast in finding ways to help communities and the environment.
On November 16, 2024, Employee volunteers visited the 35-hectare Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in Sitio Suha, San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan to plant hundreds of hardwood trees along this part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
Led by the UnionBank Government and Debit Cards Channel team, Timoteo Alonzo shared how the area was once completely bare due to illegal logging. Thanks to various volunteers and a decade of hard work, the area is slowly recovering from the damage.
The tree-planting initiative began with a quick overview led by Rudy, a local who guided the 23 UnionBank volunteers as they embarked on a challenging trek towards the tree-planting site. Upon arrival, the volunteers began planting over 500 seedlings composed of fruit-bearing trees and hardwood that can help protect the vital water reserves of Angat Dam and reverse the effects of deforestation.
The day ended with some UnionBankers climbing a rock formation with a 360-degree view of the forest, a perfect way to appreciate the continuous efforts of locals and volunteers in preserving the Sierra Madre’s natural beauty.
UnionBank encourages every employee to join these Go Beyond Communities projects to experience firsthand how the Bank supports various communities through donations, clean-up drives, and financial literacy talks.
Learn more about UnionBank’s flagship CSR project here!