Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has signed up SPi Global Inc. and Balugo Elementary School (BES) as new BINHI Greening Legacy partners in Negros Oriental.

Representatives from the two organizations joined EDC officials in planting native BINHI Tree for the Future seedlings within BES recently. The activity was done as part of SPi Global Inc.’s annual global Corporate Social Responsibility Day.

A BINHI Tree for the Future Partnership commitment was signed by the parties to define their respective roles in ensuring that the trees will grow and bear fruit. EDC provided the seedlings and training while the school provided the area where they were planted. SPi Global and BES also committed to provide long-term protection, monitoring and quarterly maintenance of their BINHI area.

Norreen Bautista, EDC Community Partnerships chief for Negros, said the joint project is unique in that will host the most endangered among 3,000 native Philippine trees. Among the 30 seedlings planted in BES were mangkono, almaciga, kalingag, betis, kalantas and ipil, which are six of the 96 premium, indigenous species prioritized by EDC.

BINHI Tree for the Future is one of four modules under EDC’s BINHI Greening Legacy program that aims to rescue and secure the gene pool of premium, endangered Philippine tree species. EDC will plant 1,000 hectares per year for 10 years under the program.