A tripartite agreement on greening program has been forged between DSWD,DENR and SM FOUNDATION INC.(SMFI) last Sept.3, 2014 in SM City Naga.

The program dubbed as “Grow a Million Trees” hopes to create a healthier and clean surroundings and to help provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to the people in the area. This also bring together the SM Group of companies, government and non-government organizations, the people’s organizations in synergy in order to help create a better world for the next generation.

Grow a Million Trees is originally a partnership between DENR and SMFI which is in ailment with EO.no 26 or the National Greening Program(NGP) that seeks to promote sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

This year, DSWD entered to help strengthen and empower people’s organizations by providing values formation, team building workshops and enterprenuerial skills.

“This in support to the environment & capability program empowering the poor and the community. We actually building nurturing communities” DSWD Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia said.

The people’s organization composed of Pantawid and non-Pantawid beneficiaries will plant and nurture the seedlings in the next three years. The plantations are envisioned to be sources of livelihoods for the PO’s as well.

The 290,000 fund will be provided by SM Food Group’s “My own Bag”project through SM Foundation Inc. for the various activities such as survey, mapping and planning, site preparation, seedling production, hauling of seedlings including maintenance.##crbarrameda