John Dizon Jr. and his family, following in the footsteps of his father who did it before them, have been long-time guardians of protected trees in their village in Tuba, Benguet. When it came time for him to take up the mantle, he did so gladly in order to honor the legacy left behind by his father.
2012 was the year when my father passed away. “At that time, we learned that the region he was overseeing in conjunction with the government was a part of a community-based forest management program,” Mr. Dizon explained.
Mr. Dizon, who is now the head of an environmental conservation group based in Benguet called Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), began working closely with the SM Foundation in 2013 for an inaugural tree-planting campaign to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.
In light of the fact that the effects of climate change have become more apparent in recent years, Mr. Dizon discussed the significance of increasing the number of trees that are planted in communities in order to reduce the concentration of air pollutants, thereby preserving the quality of the air and ensuring that people remain in good health. In addition to preventing earthquake-induced soil erosion and landslides, the trees that his father planted played an important role in this effort.
He harbors the hope that some of his offspring may follow in his footsteps and devote themselves to the cause of preserving the natural world. One of his sons is thinking about following in his father’s footsteps and pursuing a career in forestry, which would bring them one step closer to realizing that ambition.
To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon lends his support to the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM, and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan, by way of the Grow Trees Community campaign. Both of these organizations are located in Japan.
In Tuba, Benguet, the project hopes to plant and cultivate forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra, and Coffee trees in order to help create opportunities for the community’s members to earn a living. This will be accomplished through close collaboration with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA.
People’s Organization NAMALISA planted trees in Tuba, Benguet as part of the inauguration of the Grow Trees Community program.
The proponents formed a partnership with SM Supermalls as well as various government partners including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Information Agency, and the local government of Tuba.
Grow Trees Community was first introduced to the world in the municipalities of Nasugbu, Batangas and Macabebe, Pampanga. Over the course of the project’s three sites, it is anticipated that over 200,000 seedlings and propagules would be planted.
This is done in support of the SM Green Movement, which works to improve the quality of life of communities via the promotion of sustainable solutions that aim to create a green planet, green living, and a green culture.
The FR Foundation is dedicated to fostering human resources, fostering technical growth, promoting research that will help make the world a better place, and providing support to socially vulnerable persons or groups.
It is a subsidiary of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., which is the most successful retail firm in Japan and is the owner of the popular casual clothing brand Uniqlo.
