GCash, ABS-CBN Foundation plant 88,000 seedlings and launch new trees in GForest

GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, together with the ABS-CBN Foundation, has once again achieved a big win for the environment after planting over 88,000 seedlings in La Mesa Watershed via the GForest, the sustainability feature on the GCash app.

“Together with the ABS-CBN Foundation, GCash continues to uphold its goal of promoting environmental conservation and sustainability. GForest has been making a concrete impact in the reforestation efforts of the country and we believe that each tree contributed by GForest can ultimately create meaningful and positive changes in our country and the environment,” GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.

Kicked off in 2022, the joint initiative between the leading e-wallet and ABS-CBN Foundation aims to help drive climate change awareness, encourage more Filipinos to do green activities, and ultimately, preserve and enrich the La Mesa Watershed, the primary source of drinking water for Metro Manila’s over 12 million population.

This is also in support of the “Save the La Mesa Watershed Project” and its 22 years of long-standing efforts in reforestation and protecting the vital watershed. GCash, along with its partners aim to plant 2.3 Million trees across the country by this year.

“It is truly an honor to team up with GCash as we aim to achieve our common goal of conserving the environment. We look forward to continuing working with GCash and creating a greener and brighter future for all Filipinos,” ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Roberta Lopez Feliciano said.

GCash users can now easily take part in planting new trees in La Mesa Ecopark using the GForest feature on the GCash app. This includes the Malapaya Tree (85K trees), a new species recently added in GForest, which can grow up to 50 meters. This tree is a good source for the manufacture of plywood and a variety of common-use products like matchsticks and popsicle sticks. It can also be used as a replacement for non-biodegradable food containers.

Other new trees that can now be planted are the Lago and Lipote trees. The Lago tree (46K trees) can grow up to around 35 meters and is a good material for making furniture, cabinets, and plywood. Meanwhile, the Lipote tree (28K trees) can grow up to around 15 meters. Its fruits can also be eaten raw or cooked, and are used in making preserves, jellies, wine, pickles, and beverages. It is also known to help treat diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

“Many Filipinos care about the environment but don’t know how to actively take part in environmental protection. This is a barrier that GForest addresses. By using GCash and GForest, making a positive and impactful difference is now easier, and more convenient,” GCash AVP for sustainability CJ Alegre said.

To become a ‘green hero’, GCash users simply need to frequently use the app’s convenient financial services, products, and offerings, such as Send Money, Pay Bills, GCredit, GSave, and more, which will be converted into green energy on GForest. Moreover, by doing more efficient and environmentally friendly digital transactions on the app, GCash also enables users to lessen their carbon footprint. With the green energy points they have collected, they can plant virtual trees on the app, which are then converted into actual trees by GCash together with its partners, and will be planted in its partner sites nationwide.

Beyond providing safe and convenient digital financial solutions to Filipinos, GCash is also steadfast in creating more partnerships to help the country achieve a better, greener, and more sustainable future.