MGEN Unit’s reforestation expands, boosts climate and livelihoods in Panay

An expanded reforestation effort in Panay is set to restore forest cover, capture carbon, and create community livelihoods as Meralco PowerGen Corporation, through its thermal subsidiary Panay Energy Development Corporation, rolled out Phase II of the Handumanan Reforestation and Carbon Sink Project in Lambunao, Iloilo.

The second phase will rehabilitate 80 additional hectares through the planting of 153,660 endemic, indigenous, and agroforestry trees over the next four years, expanding environmental and socio-economic benefits for nearby communities in Lambunao, Iloilo.

Handumanan Phase II continues a long-running initiative that already planted more than 522,000 trees across about 150 hectares in the project’s first phase, helping revive degraded landscapes while strengthening local climate resilience.

The expansion forms part of MGEN’s contribution to One Meralco’s One for Trees Program, which targets the planting of five million trees nationwide by 2030 to support ecosystem restoration and climate action.

MGEN has committed PHP 10,000,000 to fund the implementation and monitoring of Phase II, with the company citing expected gains in carbon mitigation, biodiversity recovery, and livelihood opportunities for communities around the project site.

Since 2009, MGEN Thermal Panay has established a broad green footprint, planting 845,726 trees and mangroves across 256.62 hectares through various environmental projects and initiatives.

At the Memorandum of Agreement signing, MGEN Thermal President and CEO Felino M. Bernardo underscored the project’s long-term impact.

“Every tree we plant is a promise—a promise of cleaner air, richer biodiversity, and a healthier planet. Together, we are not just building forests; we are building hope. Powering a better tomorrow starts here, and it starts with us,” Bernardo said.

Company officials said Handumanan Phase II reflects MGEN’s mission of “Powering a Better Tomorrow,” aiming to deliver measurable environmental gains today while safeguarding natural resources for future generations.