GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, ups the ante with its
reforestation efforts as it aims to plant 2.3 million trees by 2023 through its
GForest mini-game on the app.
The fintech company kicked off this goal earlier in July with the
launch of a partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation. The goal of the partnership is
the conservation, reforestation and enrichment of La Mesa Watershed, starting
with the planting of 160,000 trees.
The event was attended by Globe Telecom CEO Ernest Cu, GCash
President and CEO Martha Sazon, Ayala Corporation chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de
Ayala, ABS-CBN Foundation executive director Ernie Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation
managing director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, and ABS-CBN corporation chair Mark
Lopez. The launch was hosted by TV news anchor and journalist Bernadette
Sembrano.
“As of February, we planted 1 million trees already with the goal
to expand to 2.3 million trees in 2023,” said Globe Telecom CEO Ernest Cu.
GCash’s aim to plant 2.3 million trees by 2023 is made possible
through the app’s sustainability feature, GForest. Through GForest, users can
plant virtual trees on the app, which GCash then plants in real life nationwide
with through its partners.
“We are excited to launch our goal with ABS-CBN Foundation, and we
look forward to working with all our partners, such as ABS-CBN and Ayala
Corporation,” said GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon. “Together, we will be
adopting 160,000 trees on our way to plant 2.3 million trees by 2023. This is a
significant step in helping our country fight deforestation. We all know that
every single tree matters.”
GCash’s mission is to make Filipinos’ everyday lives better, and
through this initiative, the company strives to fight climate change and
prevent deforestation and their devastating effects, such as flooding during
typhoon season and decreased water supply.
“We are brought together by a common vision and advocacy,
a shared belief and the importance of its last remaining forest. We breathe her
air and receive life and refreshment from her waters. Let us love and respect
nature in all her awe-inspiring expressions,” said ABS-CBN Foundation managing
director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano.
“We are honored to work with GCash to achieve our mutual goal of
environmental stewardship through reforestation,” said ABS-CBN Foundation
managing director Roberta Lopez Feliciano. “Together with other organizations
and communities, we will continue to pursue our shared vision of a greener and
brighter future for all Filipinos.”
For his part, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation
chair, called it “a great initiative,” adding, “I am proud to become a part of
the green forest network.”
Aside from GForest, GCash enables its users to reduce their carbon
footprint and help save the environment through the app’s various digital
financial services. With GCash features, such as GSave for a savings account
and “Pay Bills” feature for paying bills for utilities, schools, and the like,
more and more Filipinos don’t need to drive to the bank and other places,
decreasing pollution while offering convenience and safety in the new normal.
To date, GCash has more than 60 million users.
The GCash app is available for free on the Google Play or App
Store.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
