Pilmico, the food and agribusiness subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group, holds a month-long tree planting initiative in observance of Philippine Arbor Day on June 25 and World Environment Month in June.

The company’s different business units — Farms, Feeds, Tarlac Meatmasters (TMM), and Flour — held a series of tree planting activities from June 11-26, 2022, across various provinces in the country. 

The first batch, attended by the Farms team, began on June 11 in Brgy. Buted, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija followed by the Feeds team on June 17 at Capas National Shrine in Tarlac. Lastly, the TMM team held the final leg on June 24 at Bamban, Tarlac. Meanwhile, the Flour team planted seedlings in their adopted mangrove in Bayug Island in Iligan City last June 26.

Through the assistance of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), volunteers from Pilmico planted mahogany, molave, and cacao seedlings, among others. The team members’ involvement did not just end during their respective tree planting date itself but followed through as they frequently visited their sites throughout the week to monitor the health and growth of their trees. 

Around 140 volunteers from the different units of Pilmico planted over 1,500 trees in various cities across the Philippines.

Jielaine del Rosario, Pollution Control Officer of Pilmico, expressed her gratitude for the initiative. “Every tree we plant can help combat climate change. We’re glad to take part in Pilmico’s contribution to addressing environmental concerns relevant to our country. And so, it is also our commitment to plant and nurture these trees,” she said.

This activity is part of the A-park program, a nationwide reforestation initiative led by the Aboitiz Group, as one of their contributions to the growing global climate change problem. Furthermore, the initiative is supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as part of the government’s greening efforts. 

“It was a great way to spend our Friday morning knowing that we’re adding to the millions of trees aimed to be planted under the A-park program of the Aboitiz Group,” said Josh Douglas, Assistant Technical Director of TMM. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Pilmico’s Pollution Control Officer say about the significance of the tree planting initiative?
Jielaine del Rosario, Pollution Control Officer of Pilmico, expressed gratitude for the initiative and articulated the company’s commitment beyond the planting event: every tree planted can help combat climate change, and it is also Pilmico’s commitment to plant and nurture those trees. Her statement explicitly frames tree planting as a sustained obligation — consistent with the post-planting monitoring visits — rather than a completed transaction. Her role as Pollution Control Officer gives her statement institutional authority: environmental stewardship is embedded in the company’s regulatory compliance function, not just its CSR communications.

What was the occasion for the tree planting initiative and across which Pilmico business units did it take place?
Pilmico conducted a month-long tree planting initiative throughout June 2022 in observance of Philippine Arbor Day (June 25) and World Environment Month. All four of Pilmico’s primary business units participated: Farms, Feeds, Tarlac Meatmasters, and Flour — each holding a dedicated tree planting day at locations relevant to their operations. The multi-unit participation ensured that the initiative reflected a company-wide environmental commitment rather than a single-department activity.

Where specifically did each business unit plant trees and what species were planted?
The Farms team planted on June 11 in Brgy. Buted, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija — adjacent to Pilmico’s new Breeder and Nursery Farm. The Feeds team planted on June 17 at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac. Tarlac Meatmasters planted on June 24 in Bamban, Tarlac. The Flour team planted mangrove seedlings in their adopted mangrove site on Bayug Island in Iligan City on June 26. Species planted across the sites included mahogany, molave, and cacao, among others — a mix of timber, conservation, and agricultural species.

What is the A-park program and how does Pilmico’s tree planting connect to it?
A-park is a nationwide reforestation initiative led by the Aboitiz Group, representing the Group’s organized contribution to addressing climate change through large-scale tree planting. Pilmico’s month-long tree planting activities are one component of this broader group-wide program — adding to the millions of trees targeted for planting under the A-park initiative. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources formally supports the initiative as part of the government’s greening efforts.

How did Pilmico ensure commitment beyond the planting event itself?
Pilmico’s team members’ involvement did not end on the planting day. Volunteers from each business unit returned to their respective planting sites throughout the following weeks to monitor the health and growth of the trees they had planted. This post-planting monitoring commitment transforms the activity from a single-day photo opportunity into a sustained environmental stewardship responsibility — significantly increasing the survival rate of planted seedlings and the long-term ecological impact of the activity.