GREEN PARK. Officials of the Million Trees Foundation Inc. and new partner QBE Insurance Group lead groundbreaking of the QBE Green SanQtuary Park at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City on Monday (March 11, 2024). QBE granted the foundation with PHP3.7 million for various projects of the organization. (Photo from Million Trees Foundation FB page)
MANILA – The Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) has received a major boost with the entry of a new institutional partner, QBE Insurance Group, which has allotted PHP3.7 million for various projects of the organization.
The event was highlighted by the groundbreaking of the QBE Green SanQtuary Park at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City on Monday.
Present during the event were MTFI Chairman Emeritus and former Manila Water Sewerage System Chairman/Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco and officers of QBE Insurance Group.
“We welcome the establishment of the QBE Green Park that will not only serve as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the concrete jungle nor simply a place where children can play and create their own adventure, but also as a place where everyone one, young and old, can reconnect with nature and rejuvenate the soul,” Velasco said in his welcome remarks.
Meanwhile, QBE Samir Kumar was elated over the partnership with the Million Trees Foundation as he committed to support various projects and activities that are aligned with sustainability, climate change and the journey to planting 10 million more trees until 2030.
“QBE Insurance Group through its QBE Foundation aims to improve the resilience and preparedness of communities through long-term partnerships. With its focus on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities, QBE Foundation has its forest for water and environmental protection programs. Both programs involve tree and mangrove planting activities,” Kumar said.
The QBE Green Park will cover 1,600 square meters in the 5-hectare area allotted by MWSS to MTFI.
As envisioned, the park will have outdoor playground equipment such as slides, covered areas with seats for park visitors, and greenhouses which will accommodate seedlings of endemic trees and fruit-bearing trees.
These seedlings will be used by QBE in its tree planting activity and other partner stakeholders of the foundation.
Tree-planting is one of QBE’s projects aimed at the environment protection and sustainability program of the Australian-based insurance firm.
The use of endemic trees in reforestation is noteworthy as the Philippines is considered with a high flora endemism.
The QBE Green Park is part of the third phase project of MTFI since its founding in 2021, after the SMC Multi-Purpose Hall (Eddie’s Barn), the construction of which was funded by San Miguel Corporation.
During the groundbreaking event, QBE -SM North volunteers participated in a re-bagging activity for narra saplings for planting in June and November.
QBE Insurance Group is the latest on the list of MTFI institutional partners among these are Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Manilla Water Company Inc., Maynilad Water Services Inc., San Miguel Corporation with its subsidiary Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation, Santa Clara International, Grundfos, and Nestle Philippines.
The Million Trees Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization and the partner non-government organization of MWSS in the continued implementation of the Annual Million Tree Challenge (AMTC).
Since its kick-off tree-planting activity at Ipo Dam in 2017, around 7.8 million trees have been planted in critical watersheds vital to the water supply in MWSS coverage area. (PNA)
