Manila North Harbour Port Inc. (MNHPI) joined forces with ABS-CBN Foundation- Bantay Kalikasan (BK) in promoting environment preservation, as they planted 400 seedlings of Malapapaya, a tree endemic to the Philippines that is commonly used to make plywood and chopsticks. More than 30 employees of MNHPI participated in the “Plant for Tomorrow: A Tree Planting Activity” which unfolded at the La Mesa Nature Reserve.

“We find it (tree-planting activity) na kailangan talaga. Itong environment natin maganda, wala nang maipapalit pa rito kaya kailangan natin magkaroon ng mga ganitong adbokasiya”, said Marlon O. Villaralvo, Safety Environment and Safety Head of Manila North Harbour Port Inc.

Manila North Harbour Port Inc. (MNHPI) is the cargo handling operator of the premier domestic port, Manila North Harbor.

The two-hour trek did not stop them from achieving their main goal in doing the activity – to raise their level of consciousness about the environment. MNHPI emphasized the need for environment protection knowing that it will affect not just the present but the future generations as well.

Before this partnership, MNHPI has been an active environment advocate as it annually conducts tree-planting activities. They also participate in the Manila Bay rehabilitation where they worked hand in hand with the Philippine Coast Guards in cleaning the coastal areas of Manila. MNHPI also became a partner of Bantay Kalikasan in the Bantay Baterya project, an environmental project that aims to collect and properly dispose used lead-acid batteries.

This tree-planting activity, as what the project title states, “Plant for Tomorrow”, shows how today’s actions and behaviors toward the environment can leave an impact to our future. And that we are playing a vital role in the protection and preservation of our environment.