Private sector groups that partnered in the massive regreening program of Negros Island committed on Friday to continue planting more trees even after the movement ended ahead of schedule.

The commitment was made during a press conference to celebrate the supposed 10th anniversary of the “10 Million in 10 Years for a Greener Negros” (10 M in 10), a regreening program that planted 10 million native trees in just six years.

Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), said 268 partners across Negros Island hit their goals in 2021 through different approaches.

These include planting from the lowlands to the uplands, coastal and riverside communities, agro-forestry, and integrated school greening programs.

The adopt-a-plantation approach, meanwhile, allowed private companies, groups, and individuals to participate.

Du said First Gen-Energy Development Corporation’s BINHI also contributed to the success.

BINHI is an extensive environmental program being implemented in Negros Island and other project sites of the company.

Its components include forest restoration, protection of forests within watersheds, advocacy, mainstreaming of Philippine native trees and biodiversity conservation.

Du said a third-party expert has validated that the trees planted have a 79 to 85 percent survival rate or a total of 307,552 metric tons of carbon dioxide avoided through the program.

Danford Sy of New Bian Yek Commercial, Inc., a member of NOCCI and a partner of 10 M in 10, said the biggest challenge is sustainability and ensuring the trees’ survival.

“It only takes one disaster for us to be able to realize that we need to plant more trees,” he said.

Sy called on other business establishments in Negros Oriental to engage in tree planting as a way of giving back to the province and to the environment.

Now that 10 million trees have been planted, Du said they now face a “bigger responsibility.”

“We must nurture them for survival in the years to come,” he said. (PNA)