Tuesday, July 22, 2008 PLDT, NTT Docomo embark on tree planting program
TELECOMS leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), together with wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) and PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), is embarking on a three-year tree planting program with Japan's leading mobile communications company NTT Docomo in an effort to contribute to the reduction of global carbon emission.
The collaboration aims to expand the tree planting initiatives of PLDT and Smart that have already contributed over 130,000 seedlings to the country's reforestation efforts since 2004.
Under the partnership, NTT Docomo will allocate an initial P3 million for 2008 to supplement this year's tree planting budget of PLDT and Smart.
The PLDT Group will be responsible for selecting the location of the reforestation project, identifying the type and number of trees to be planted, and mobilizing its employees to join tree-planting activities.
As a gesture of solidarity, NTT Docomo will also send a group of its own employees to join in the tree-planting activities in the Philippines.
The decision to launch the reforestation project is a result of top-level discussions between PLDT, Smart, and NTT Docomo regarding the development of collaborative activities, including CSR undertakings. The joint forestation project was formalized with a letter signed by the three companies.
"We are honored to have a very active shareholder in NTT Docomo. The PLDT Group stands to benefit from its experience in environment work, given the importance that Japanese companies place on environmental protection, energy saving recycling, global warming, and other environmental issues. We hope that this tree planting project is the first of many such pro-environment collaborations with NTT Docomo," said PLDT and Smart public affairs head Ramon Isberto.
"The PLDT-Smart Foundation plays a very active role in ensuring that corporate social responsibility is promoted within the PLDT Group so we are very happy that we will be involving employees in this project with NTT Docomo. The environment is everybody's concern and the responsibility of its care and preservation is one which we've undertaken and will continue to champion within the company," said PLDT-Smart Foundation president Butch Meily.
Akiko Ide, NTT Docomo managing director for corporate citizenship, expressed full support for the PLDT Group's tree-planting project.
"NTT Docomo's reforestation efforts have been focused in Japan, so far. Hence, we find it apt that much like the telecommunications industry, there are no boundaries for pro-environment initiatives like the one that we now enjoy with the PLDT Group. By working together, we can contribute greatly to environment preservation," she said.
