Aboitiz Foundation and GCash have partnered on the CarbonPH x GForest Project, a five-year initiative to restore 1,200 hectares of forest and coastal areas in Balamban, Cebu, planting one million trees while reviving ecosystems, supporting communities, and strengthening climate resilience.
The alliance unites CarbonPH, the foundation’s 40-year nature-based program targeting 40,000–71,000 hectares across Cebu’s Central Cebu Protected Landscape, and GCash GForest, which has already planted 4.9 million trees and aims for 10 million by 2030.
GForest turns everyday GCash user activities into green energy points that fund restoration work, expanding public participation in conservation. Local groups including the Singsing Tilapia Growers and Farmers Association are being trained in nursery management and project stewardship to lead long-term care. The project will establish a mix of agroforestry, native trees, and mangroves to rebuild biodiversity, secure watersheds, enhance water security, and reinforce coastal defenses against climate risks.
“CarbonPH is about restoring entire ecosystems, not just counting trees,” said Aboitiz Foundation president Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar. “This partnership brings private sector strength, technology, and communities together to deliver lasting impact.” Mynt head of corporate sustainability Michelle Fernandez noted that the model embeds sustainability into daily life, turning ordinary digital actions into tangible environmental gains. Together, the effort advances broader goals of carbon sequestration, habitat protection, and shared livelihoods, marking a key milestone in Cebu’s multi-decade landscape restoration journey.
