The Philippines is one of the world’s
largest exporters of coconut productsm. This industry, however, faces multiple challenges such as low
productivity due to a host of social, financial and logistical factors. To
further support and promote the country’s coconut industry, leading fintech
superapp GCash, through its in-app sustainability feature GForest, in
partnership with HOPE and Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CPFI), has planted one
million coconut trees in Mindanao alone, co uplifting the lives of over 7,600
smallholder farmers, of whom 32% are women.
GCash and its partners recently attended
the World Coconut Congress, which was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay
City, where GForest sustainability head CJ Alegrem, along with Nanette
Medved-Po, founder and chairwoman of HOPE, and Noel Tempongko, Vice President
and General Manager of Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc. (CPAVI),
CPFI's OEM-Coconut business, proudly shared the positive impact of their
partnership.
“The success of the GForest program in
Mindanao is a testament to our ‘Tech for Good’ vision. With the help of our
green heroes, the one million coconut trees planted in the region brings us
closer to our goal of contributing to carbon sequestration, while at the same
time, providing sustainable livelihoods for local farmers,” shared Alegre.
This initiative not only aims to address
the challenges surrounding the direct supply chains for coconut oil, but also
the cultivation areas as a whole as the project supports local communities,
helping them achieve financial growth and empowerment.
“We’re incredibly proud of what GCash,
HOPE, and Century Pacific Food, Inc. have achieved together. The work doesn’t stop
there. We are committed to continuing our work towards a healthier planet while
providing livelihood to smallholder farmers who need it the most,” said
Medved-Po.
The partnership was initially launched in
August 2021 through GForest, an environmental protection feature on the GCash
app that allows users to take an active role in the country’s reforestation
efforts. Through the platform, GCash users earn green energy points, which can
be used to plant virtual trees. In turn, GCash, together with its partners
across the Philippines, plant an actual tree for every virtual tree in the app.
Take part in celebrating the impactful
potential of the coconut tree by joining GForest. To activate, tap GForest in
the GCash app, read the user agreement, and click ‘I want to help! Then allow
access to your contacts and health app. Once accomplished, you can now start
collecting energy points.
Don’t have GCash yet? Download the app for
free on Google Play for Android, Apple Store for iPhone and iPad users, or
Huawei Gallery.
To know more, visit GCash at https://www.gcash.com.
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