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Manila Bulletin devider Environment and Sustainability devider MGEN Unit expands Handumanan Reforestation in Panay

MGEN Unit expands Handumanan Reforestation in Panay

Published Feb 5, 2026 11:01 am
MGEN, West Visayas State University, and DENR officials form partnerships for reforestation efforts in Lambunao, Iloilo. WVSU-CAF Campus Administrator Dr. Joel A. Araquil, Sr.; MGEN Thermal Chief Operating Officer Arnel L. Santos; MGEN Thermal Panay Site Head Antonio J. Cabalhug Jr.; WVSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Peter Ernie D. Paris; MGEN Thermal President and CEO Felino M. Bernardo; DENR Region VI Regional Executive Director For. Raul Lorilla; DENR-PENRO Iloilo PENR Officer For. Salvador C. Manglinong, Jr.; and DENR-EMB VI Regional Director Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua.
MGEN, West Visayas State University, and DENR officials form partnerships for reforestation efforts in Lambunao, Iloilo. WVSU-CAF Campus Administrator Dr. Joel A. Araquil, Sr.; MGEN Thermal Chief Operating Officer Arnel L. Santos; MGEN Thermal Panay Site Head Antonio J. Cabalhug Jr.; WVSU Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Peter Ernie D. Paris; MGEN Thermal President and CEO Felino M. Bernardo; DENR Region VI Regional Executive Director For. Raul Lorilla; DENR-PENRO Iloilo PENR Officer For. Salvador C. Manglinong, Jr.; and DENR-EMB VI Regional Director Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua.
Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), through its thermal subsidiary Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), formalized its partnership for the Handumanan Reforestation and Carbon Sink Project Phase II, marking the continuation of its long-running reforestation efforts in Lambunao, Iloilo.
Handumanan Phase II forms part of MGEN’s contribution to One Meralco’s One for Trees Program – advancing its goal of planting five (5) million trees nationwide by 2030. Through this initiative, MGEN continues to align its environmental programs with broader efforts to restore ecosystems and build climate resilience.
Phase II builds on the results of the first phase of Handumanan – which planted more than 522,000 trees across around 150 hectares in Lambunao. Under the new phase, the project will restore 80 additional hectares through the planting of 153,660 endemic, indigenous, and agroforestry trees over the next four (4) years.
MGEN has committed Php 10 million to support the implementation and monitoring of the project. In addition to expanding forest cover, the initiative is expected to help address carbon emissions, revive biodiversity, and provide livelihood opportunities for nearby communities.
Since 2009, MGEN Thermal Panay has nurtured a thriving green footprint with 845,726 trees and mangroves planted across 256.62 hectares from various projects and initiatives.
At the Memorandum of Agreement signing, MGEN Thermal President and CEO Felino M. Bernardo emphasized: “Every tree we plant is a promise—a promise of cleaner air, richer biodiversity, and a healthier planet. Together, we are not just building forests; we are building hope. Powering a better tomorrow starts here, and it starts with us.”
Handumanan Phase II embodies MGEN’s mission of Powering a Better Tomorrow—driving meaningful change for communities today and preserving nature for generations to come.
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