The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the development of an area approximately 930 hectares portion of the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve (PCWFR) situated in Barangay R.A. Padilla, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija last June 9, 2015.

The project aims to develop the area for the following purposes: multi-purpose tree plantation (fuel wood and timber), agro-forestry plantation and ecotourism development project.

The signatories for the Department of Natural Resources were Mr. Francisco E. Milla, Jr., Regional Director, DENR Region 3 and Mr. Arthur C. Salazar, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, DENR, Region 3. The signatories for the Foundation were Ms. Juanita Tan Lee, Assistant Treasurer and Corporate Secretary and Atty. Erwin C. Go, Legal Counsel, LTGC and Mr. Marlo M. Mendoza, Associate Dean, UPLB-College of Forestry and Natural Resources and Former DENR Asst. Secretary. 

The TYKFI project manager has already mobilized his team of planters who will plant seedlings as part of the Carranglan multi-purpose tree plantation project by August 2015 at the start of the rainy season.

The Dr. Lucio C. Tan Legacy Forest Project intends to plant 15 Million seedlings over six years or 2.5M seedlings per year primarily to help address the problem of global warming. Once mature, the 15M trees shall provide multiple benefits both ecological and socio-economic such as carbon sink,  livelihood, raw material supply, wildlife habitat, improved water quality and quantity, improved ecosystems services, among others. This will be achieved by planting of various species of forest and fruit trees, vegetables, root crops using the agroforestry approach and through eco-tourism.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) Chairman and President, Dr. Lucio C. Tan, signed an MOU together with the University of the Philippines Los Baños, to plant 15 Million trees in 10,000 hectares of forestland in a span of 10 years. The trees will include a variety of timber, bio fuels/wood fuels, pulp and paper source, and rubber, including an array of species (almaciga, tindalo, guijo, almon, Philippine teak, kalantas, and supa).

The project is coherent with the shared environmental advocacy of both parties to leave a ‘legacy’ for future generations. After all, the future generation will be the ones enjoying the benefits of the trees to be planted through the project.

Signing the MOU are TYKFI Chairman and President Dr. Lucio C. Tan and UPLB Chancellor Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz, TYKFI Corporate Secretary and Asst. Treasurer Juanita Tan Lee and UPLB Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Dr. Enrique L. Tolentino, Jr. Other staff and officers of UPLB and TYKFI were also present during the event. 

The Chairman and President, Dr. Lucio C. Tan, also took part in a tree planting ceremony with UPLB Chancellor Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz. Together, they planted the mentioned threatened native tree species (almaciga, tindalo, guijo, almon, Philippine teak, kalantas, and supa).

Mangroves provide habitat to many marine animals. These trees hold the ground, thus preventing erosion since there is a general tendency for the sea to engulf the land. The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) recognizes the many other benefits of Mangroves aside from the ones mentioned. Thus, the Foundation, in partnership with the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, launched “Las-Ud Mangrove Project” last August 14. 2014. It was attended by Hon. Teresita Valle (Mayor, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur); Former DENR ASec Marlo Mendoza, Mr. Philip Sing, Ms. Elizabeth Alba, Mr. Jonathan Anuma, Ms. Valerie Tan and Ms. Janel Badlis ( Tan Yan Kee Foundation Representatives); Mr. Joseph S. Gumnad (OIC-Municipal Agriculturist) and Mr. Larry C. Calleja (AT/ MENRO); Mr. Antonio Lozano (Brgy. Captain, Las-Ud Sta. Cruz) and its Kagawad, Barangay Health Workers and member of 4P’s.

Boracay Island is a premiere tourist destination which boasts of sugar-fine, white sand beach incomparable to any in the world.  The Boracay Master Development Plan was created to ensure the preservation of this island paradise.   

Like all coastal areas, erosion is a common problem.  Therefore, mangrove reforestation is one of the best ways to ensure that coastal soil is protected against erosion, especially against the big waves.   And this is main benefit of this project to Barangay Manocmanoc, Boracay Island.  Second, it acts as a natural windbreaker especially during the monsoon period, which is important as Sitio Lugotan, where the mangrove project is an alternative boat station during the Habagat season.  

Tanduay Distillers, Inc. and the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. joined hands to spearhead the Roots for Boracay Project, in cooperation with DENR-PENRO of Aklan, the Municipality of  Malay, Aklan,  and Barangay Manocmanoc, Boracay, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay.

Boracay Island—DENR, Municipality of Malay, Tanduay, and Tan Yan Kee Foundation agreed to lend each other a helping hand to secure this No. 1 in World’s Best Beach Overall Island, Boracay.

A social program that will engage people, both locals and tourists, whose affinity with Boracay spills over to actively participating in initiatives to SAVE, PROTECT, and PRESERVE the mangroves of Boracay Island.

How would one have reacted once she is told that she will be sent to Boracay? 

For someone like me who has never been to Boracay for the past two decades, it may seem like an early holiday treat. But not until the other half of the message was delivered – “assist in the mangroves rehabilitation project.” The mangroves of Boracay have been diminishing. 

Tanduay has realized this major threat to the environment and through the Group’s Tan Yan Kee Foundation, a team has been sent to Boracay to figure out how we can help.