The Philippines is one of the world’s largest exporters of coconut productism. This industry, however, faces multiple challenges such as low productivity due to a host of social, financial and logistical factors.
To further support and promote the country’s coconut industry, leading fintech super app GCash, through its in-app sustainability feature GForest, in partnership with HOPE and Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CPFI), has planted one million coconut trees in Mindanao alone, co uplifting the lives of over 7,600 smallholder farmers, of whom 32% are women.
GCash and its partners recently attended the World Coconut Congress, which was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, where GForest sustainability head CJ Alegrem, along with Nanette Medved-Po, founder and chairwoman of HOPE, and Noel Tempongko, Vice President and General Manager of Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc. (CPAVI), CPFI’s OEM-Coconut business, proudly shared the positive impact of their partnership.
“The success of the GForest program in Mindanao is a testament to our ‘Tech for Good’ vision. With the help of our green heroes, the one million coconut trees planted in the region brings us closer to our goal of contributing to carbon sequestration, while at the same time, providing sustainable livelihoods for local farmers,” shared Alegre.
This initiative not only aims to address the challenges surrounding the direct supply chains for coconut oil, but also the cultivation areas as a whole as the project supports local communities, helping them achieve financial growth and empowerment.
“We’re incredibly proud of what GCash, HOPE, and Century Pacific Food, Inc. have achieved together. The work doesn’t stop there. We are committed to continuing our work towards a healthier planet while providing livelihood to smallholder farmers who need it the most,” said Medved-Po.
The partnership was initially launched in August 2021 through GForest, an environmental protection feature on the GCash app that allows users to take an active role in the country’s reforestation efforts.
Through the platform, GCash users earn green energy points, which can be used to plant virtual trees. In turn, GCash, together with its partners across the Philippines, plant an actual tree for every virtual tree in the app.
Take part in celebrating the impactful potential of the coconut tree by joining GForest. To activate, tap GForest in the GCash app, read the user agreement, and click ‘I want to help! Then allow access to your contacts and health app. Once accomplished, you can now start collecting energy points.
Don’t have GCash yet? Download the app for free on Google Play for Android, Apple Store for iPhone and iPad users, or Huawei Gallery.
