In celebration of Philippine Arbor Day last June 25, Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates' West Cebu Estate (WCE) team and various partners recently planted over 2,500 seedlings in Balamban, Cebu, marking another milestone in the team’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Aboitiz InfraCapital’s business units are committed to creating a greener, healthier future in the communities we operate in. This tree planting activity, which we have been doing for the past 16 years, is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together toward a common goal,” said Cyel Auza, Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates Vice President for Cebu Operations.

Since March 2008, WCE has demonstrated unwavering dedication to reforestation, with over 100,000 trees planted, strengthening this legacy and fostering community collaboration and environmental stewardship.

This year’s tree-planting activity brought together 333 team member (TM) volunteers, including TMs from MEZ2 Estate and Unity Digital Infrastructure, Inc., the digital infrastructure arm of Aboitiz InfraCapital.

MEZ2 Estate, the pioneering industrial park in Visayas, is home to The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, Visayas-Mindanao’s first authentic outlet mall destination. At the same time, Unity operates telecommunication towers nationwide, including several in Cebu, where Unity established one of its pilot sites in 2021.

Other volunteers included Aboitiz Construction, Inc. and Balamban EnerZone Corporation TMs; WCE locators, contractors, and service providers; and volunteers from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders.

This collective effort led by WCE highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.

The seedlings were planted in Buhingtubig, Barangay Buanoy, in Balamban, Cebu. Barangay Buanoy is an urban and coastal barangay with a total area of 1,050 hectares, mostly agricultural land.

Barangay Buanoy is host to WCE, whose 540-hectare mixed-use Economic Estate has transformed Balamban, Cebu, into the Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.

Hosting 12 locators from medium to heavy industries and employing 14,000 skilled workers, WCE is complemented by residential, commercial, and institutional components. Its ongoing 39-hectare industrial expansion and the upcoming development of a 3.3-hectare central business district are set to attract many industries. These expansion areas are expected to create 14,000 new jobs,  stimulating new opportunities in commercial centers, housing, transportation, and more.