The Farmville de Bago in Negros Occidental will soon become a haven of Philippine native trees after it partnered with geothermal producer Energy Development Corp. (EDC) to plant premium endemic species.

The partnership is being implemented under BINHI, EDC’s flagship environmental program, focusing on research and rescue of threatened species of trees in Philippine forests and on bringing back their abundance.

Norreen Bautista, EDC corporate social responsibility head of Negros, said the partnership with Farmville de Bago is celebrated as they move together beyond sustainability and promote regenerative stewardship of the environment.

“For every arboretum established, we are ensuring the verdant legacy of our Philippine native trees,” she said in a statement on Monday.

The EDC formalized its collaboration with Farmville de Bago owners, lawyer Henry Sy-Yap and family, for the establishment of the firm’s 24th arboretum in a virtual signing of a memorandum of agreement held on March 12.

Farmville de Bago, a 16.68-hectare farm complex located in Barangay Atipuluan in Bago City, offers guests and visitors opportunities to interact with different farm animals and enjoy the beauty of nature.

This is not the first time that Sy-Yap and his family have collaborated with EDC as the farm owners have also been contributing to the company’s 10 Million Trees in 10 Years (10M in 10) for a Greener Negros Movement campaign by planting more than 10,000 trees since 2017.

“(All the) more reason to have the resolve (for) me and my kids, up to my grandchildren, to do the right thing. I think we need to do this to save our planet. As I’ve said earlier, who else would (do it), but us,” Sy-Yap said.

Through the BINHI search and rescue program, the EDC has prioritized 96 threatened native tree species.

Among those planted include Yakal-saplungan, Yakal-malibato, Malabayabas, Betis, Apunan, Pianga, Kamagong, Kamagong ponce, Ipil, Tindalo, and Supa. (PNA)