Dolefil and Lead.Ph launch 5-year Tree-Planting Program

The cold early morning drizzle on September 18, 2011 could not dampen the high spirits of  200 Dolefil employees and guests as they gathered for what is to be a momentous Ceremonial Tree Planting Activity. Held at a gully in Purok Dignadice, Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato, the activity strengthened the record of the multinational food company’s record (which just won an award from the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines) as being an industry leader in both its environmental practices or in its labor relations.

Check out our story on Dolefil’s latest award by Clicking Here.

The tree planting event is LEAD.PH’s (Labor Employees Association of Dolefil.Polomolok Hourlies) expression of its commitment and support to the company’s CSSR (Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility) initiatives as reflected in the Green Clause of the said union’s CBA. LEAD.PH is the official bargaining agent of Polomolok-based hourly-paid employees of Dolefil.

Atty. Mel Hernandez, Dolefil HR Division Director, emphasized the activity’s importance on his message, “Dolefil pioneered the inclusion of a Green Clause in its CBA, a program that actively supports environmental protection and welfare.” Furthermore, Atty. Hernandez even encouraged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to make the Green Clause a standard provision to be adopted by unions in the Philippines in their respective CBAs, as a support to President Benigno Aquino’s National Greening Program.

Officers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DOLE, delegates from the Local Government Unit of Polomolok, Municipal Councilors, Barangay Officials, and representatives from the company’s service providers and business partners all took part in the tree planting activity. [quote1]

Dolefil VP and Managing Director Mr. Simon Denye expressed his gratitude to the participants and recognized the initiative, effort and unity of all the individuals involved in the said successful program.

In its launching alone, 1,100 bamboo seedlings were planted by union members and the community. “What makes this tree planting program distinct is that by choosing bamboo as its planting material, it will be able to provide additional means of livelihood to the members of the community,” Mahintana Foundation, Inc.’s Executive Director Martiniano “Dodoy” Magdolot remarked during his tree planting demo. Members of the community will benefit from the purchase of the seedlings and from the use of mature bamboos as raw materials for bahay kubo and furniture.

Unlike other one-time activities, this project will continue every other Sunday. Each of the 100 LEAD.PH members per batch is to plant and grow ten seedlings. LEAD.PH’s Gully Tree Planting will run for the entire lifetime of the CBA (5 years), involving almost 4,000 union members, and will result to at least 200,000 planted bamboos, providing stable waterways and livelihood to the community. “I am proud that through the Green Clause provision of the CBA between Dolefil and LEAD.PH, we have implemented and launched this Ceremonial Tree Planting. Kini ang pinakauna nga CBA Green Clause sa tibuok Pilipinas! CBA na makakalikasan!” stated Francis Gales, LEAD.PH President.

Likewise, the activity is a manifestation of Dolefil and LEAD.PH’s commitment to productive partnership, proving that with a common vision and goal, a company leads by example and through accomplishments. Dolefil indeed is making things happen.