14 June 2024, Talakag, Bukidnon.
Today Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc. and Dole-Stanfilco turned over to stakeholders in Brgy. San Isidro the rehabilitated site in Talakag Municipality in a simple ceremony.
Under the “Adopt-a-Creek” project, a 1-hectare critical portion of Malinao Creek has now become a “mini forest park” with about 1,000 hills of now fully-grown Narra trees. The project was launched in 2020 during the pandemic.
The rehabilitated area is part of the property of FARBECO cooperative, which affects the community of San Isidro, farms of Dole-Stanfilco, and the overall ecological landscape of Talakag town.
Despite the challenging terrain the initiative still registered a survival rate of 70%, where unsuccessful seedlings got replanted within the project duration.
Kasilak and Dole-Stanfilco’s commitment to protect and conserve the environment is not a one-time tree-planting event but a sustainable tree-growing project that lasts to 3-5 years. Thus the site adoption model now becomes a standard in its environmental rehabilitation initiatives.
Currently, the company has a total of 10 adopted sites in its areas of operations. The adopted sites are either rivers, creeks, esteros, forest and parks.
The turnover ceremony, which coincided with the Environment Month observation, is graced by the presence of Talakag Municipal Administrator Alberto Bigcas (representing the Mayor Vergito Factura), Dole’s HR-Employee Engagement & CSR Manager Jong Oville, Kasilak Executive Director Jobe Tubigon, Brgy. Capt. Ronaldo Factura, Deputy CENRO Melchor Rasalan, and the FARBECO Board Chairman William Acala.
As an initiative for Corporate Social Responsibility of Dole-Stanfilco, implemented by Kasilak, the ceremonial turnover stood as a challenge to stakeholder-recipients who also committed to plant more and expand to other areas.
Sunshine for all earth-warriors!
