Threatened Philippine native tree species have found a new home at the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) with the establishment of a 101 Trees Arboretum in partnership with geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

The arboretum is being put up under EDC’s BINHI greening legacy program, in honor of the late Juan R. Manlapaz and funded by his family headed by Dr. Edna Manlapaz.

ADMU president Fr. Jett Villarin together with Dr. Edna Manlapaz and EDC CSR-PR head Atty. Allan Barcena planted Malakatmon (Dillenia luzoniensis), a threatened tree species that can only be found in Sibuyan Romblon and Puerto Princesa, to inaugurate the arboretum. EDC and ADMU planted 87 of the first set of 101 native Philippine tree species during the inauguration.

EDC has been bridging forest gaps and bringing back to abundance 96 threatened Philippine native trees for over 10 years with the help of its partners through its BINHI greening legacy program. ADMU is EDC’s 175th partner while the university’s 101 Trees Arboretum is the 12th arboretum that the company has established all over the country.

“We are glad to have this arboretum or museum of threatened Philippine native tree species at the Ateneo de Manila University,” said Atty. Allan V. Barcena, head of EDC’s CSR-PR group. “It is through our committed partners that we are able to promote and save these native tree species from extinction.”

EDC’s 1,475MW capacity accounts for 37 percent of the country’s total generated renewable energy, making it the country’s leading RE company. Its 1,181MW of geothermal portfolio, which accounts for 61 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, has put the Philippines on the global energy map as the 3rd largest geothermal producer.