Vena Energy, a leading green energy solutions provider in the Asia-Pacific region, celebrated World Environment Day by launching a large-scale reforestation initiative in Sitio Kilingan, Antipolo City. The event marks the start of a major commitment to plant 28,000 trees across 50 hectares of forest land, supporting the Philippine government’s national conservation goals.
Under the theme “Plant a Tree, Make a Change Today!”, the initiative directly supports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) “Forests for Life” (FFL) program, which aims to plant five million indigenous trees nationwide by 2028.
The event featured the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Vena Energy and the local People’s Organization, Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Kilingan-Panusugin, Inc. (SMKPI). This partnership—the first of its kind between SMKPI and a private sector entity—tasks the local community with the long-term establishment and maintenance of the 50-hectare plantation.
“This ceremonial tree planting is our first step in honoring the commitment we have made to adopt and plant on an initial 50 hectares of forest land,” said Samrinder Nehria, Head of Vena Energy in the Philippines. “As a company dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, we ensure that our responsibility to the environment extends beyond our renewable energy projects.”
uring the kick-off activity, 19 Vena Energy employee volunteers joined 100 members of the SMKPI to plant an initial batch of 200 seedlings, including indigenous species such as Molave and White Lauan, as well as Soursop.
The Antipolo site was strategically selected for its critical ecological role in the Greater Metro Manila area. Rizal province is also a primary hub for several of Vena Energy’s renewable energy assets, making the province a focal point for the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental stewardship efforts.
Community-Led SustainabilityBryan Ulic-Ulic, Provincial Coordinator for the DENR’s Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM), emphasized the importance of the collaboration. “The motto of the CBFM is ‘People first and sustainability will follow.’ This initiative will be one of our solutions for our sustainable environment. Better climatic conditions—we cannot pay for that.”
The initiative follows a mother agreement signed between Vena Energy and the DENR in February 2026, formalizing the company’s role in biodiversity restoration, climate change mitigation, and the enhancement of local community livelihoods.
