Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) swapped the showroom for shovels in a two-leg tree-planting drive across Batangas and Laguna. Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) and the city governments of Tanauan and Biñan, Honda planted a total of 400 Kamagong seedlings.
Why Kamagong?
Kamagong is a native Philippine hardwood, sometimes called mabolo or Philippine ebony, known for its dense, dark wood. Planting native species is a good choice for restoration work because they're adapted to local conditions and support local wildlife.
Leg one: Bagbag River, Tanauan
The first planting happened on September 18 along Bagbag River in Tanauan City, Batangas. Honda associates, LGU volunteers and CENRO Tanauan representatives worked together to plant seedlings along the riverbank.
The goal here is riverbank rehabilitation. Trees along rivers help:
- Restore riparian vegetation
- Control erosion
- Create a more stable, resilient river ecosystem
Leg two: The Meadows, Biñan
On October 10, the drive moved to The Meadows in Biñan, Laguna, this time focusing on urban greening and flood prevention.
About 50 community volunteers joined in. They're residents of The Meadows who were affected by the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) extension project, and they're also the direct beneficiaries of the trees they planted. That's a nice detail: the people who'll live alongside these trees helped plant them.
What Honda says
"Honda believes that environmental responsibility strongly calls for collective efforts," said Riza Quito, Operating Head of Corporate Affairs and IT Operations of Honda Philippines, Inc. "Through our partnership with DENR-CENRO and respective LGUs, we provide small yet meaningful contributions to the environment through the seeds we planted, while also encouraging the building of stronger and more resilient communities."
The initiative supports three UN Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
My take
With flooding becoming a yearly worry in many parts of Luzon, efforts like this matter, especially when they focus on riverbanks and flood-prone communities. The real test, of course, is what happens after planting. Seedlings need years of care to grow into trees that can actually hold soil and absorb water, so I hope to see follow-up updates on how these Kamagong trees are doing.
Honda says it plans more local activities to reach more communities. For updates, visit hondaph.com or follow Honda Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
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