Energy firm commits to NegOr greening program

A key official of geothermal power leader, Energy Development Corp. (EDC), in Negros Oriental has assured that every day is BINHI Day, referring to the company’s legacy greening program.

“BINHI Day does not end with these planted trees. We will continue to take care of them with our partners,” said Norreen Bautista, head of EDC’s Community Partnerships, External Relations and Watershed Management Group (Crew) in Negros Oriental, in an interview Tuesday, July 17.

Bautista gave the assurance as EDC continues with its BINHI Program to plant trees, along with its different partners in the province and other parts of the country.

“BINHI greening legacy is EDC’s forest restoration program. Literally, the name means seedling,” she pointed out.

Last month, EDC and its partners in the “10M in 10 for a Greener Negros Movement” celebrated BINHI Day and Arbor Day by planting 3,000 native seedlings in Calabnugan, Sibulan in Negros Oriental.

According to Bautista, they will ensure the growth of the seedlings planted and “every day should be BINHI day because all our efforts to preserve the environment are crucial in fighting climate change.”

Among the native tree species planted in Calabnugan, Sibulan were Balite, Tabugay, Taruy, Talo-ot, Pili, and Kube.

The company has already planted more than 6.3 million seedlings alongside its 149 partners from 16 regions across the country, according to a media release from EDC.

BINHI aims to “bring back to abundance premium endangered native trees and to bridge forest gaps through a holistic, scientific, and multi-pronged approach.”

Of the total trees planted nationwide, an estimated 2.5 million were planted in more than 3,000 hectares in Negros Island with more than 30 BINHI local partners.

The company has put up its own state-of-the-art automated nursery in its geothermal project in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

Known as the Vegetative Materials Reproduction facility, it was launched last April and features an automated mist irrigation system from Israel that mimics forest-like conditions. (PNA)