Some 500 volunteers from different bus companies, private and government agencies, and youth organizations threw their support behind NLEX Corporation’s Greening the NLEX program, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles traversing its expressways.
Launched in 2006, the program highlights the tollway company’s commitment to protect the environment and contribute to cleaner air and a healthier ecology by planting 10,000 trees every year along the mainline and interchanges of NLEX and SCTEX.
Designed to mitigate the effects of global warming and environment imbalance, the tree planting activity was recognized by various stakeholders and has encouraged an increasing number of public and private organizations to support the greening initiative.
In the first half of the year, eight groups partnered with NLEX Corporation in the program. These include the Familia Youth Ministry, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, Inc. (NSNPBPI), Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources, Integrated Bar of the Philippines -Bulacan Chapter, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Valenzuela City Environment and Natural Resources, and Valenzuela City Agricultural Office. These partnerships fostered a sense of shared responsibility and environmental stewardship between NLEX and its stakeholders.
A vital component of the tollway company’s CSR program, NLEX has so far planted more that 211,000 trees in the entire stretch of the expressways, representing a significant step towards fostering a greener and more sustainable future.
“Our company has always been guided by the time-honored value of “malasakit”, wherein caring for the environment also means caring for the future generation. It is our hope that through this program, we are able provide a healthier and cleaner environment, and leave a greener NLEX to our kids,” said NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi L. Bautista.
Aside from encouraging the stakeholders to be environmentally responsible, the tree planting activity also aims to rekindle the spirit of volunteerism and promotes camaraderie among the participants.
Recently, 100 NSNBPI volunteers from Partas Bus, Five Star Bus, Luzon Cisco Transport, Victory Liner, First North Luzon Transit, Genesis Transport, Bataan Transit, Baliwag Transit, and Golden Bee Transport planted bougainvillea trees in NLEX Dau, Pampanga.
“Sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng mga puno sa paligid ng NLEX, kami ay buong pusong sumusuporta sa pagsugpo sa mga hamong dulot ng pagbabago ng klima. Naniniwala po kami na ang bawat munting halaman ay may malaking ambag sa pagpapabuti ng kalidad ng hangin at kalagayan ng kapaligiran,” said Villamor Maya, Field Operations Manager of Victory Liner Inc.
Former President and now Deputy House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Valenzuela City 2nd District Representative Eric M. Martinez, and DENR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caanan were also among the volunteers in the past Greening the NLEX events.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
