CONTINUING a long tradition of giving back to the community on its anniversary, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) marked its 14th year by partnering with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) for a watershed conservation project in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Ilagan, Isabela.

The objective of the project is to establish 40 hectares of agro-forestry land and plant 100 mango and Satsuma seedlings per hectare, to maintain this land through the provision of organic fertilizer and to train farmers in agro-forestry and seedling production. IPC will provide funds to allow WWF to pilot and expand agro-forestry in grasslands, upland corn-growing areas and farms in order to maintain life-giving watershed functions and services.

“We are going to carry out educational programs for the local farmers so that destruction of forests can be prevented.  This initiative will enable them to generate income and eventually improve their livelihood and lead a happy life. Agro-forestry will teach farmers how to be independent as Isuzu is after sustainability and long-term empowerment,“ said IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki during the media launch at Makati Shangri-La held on August 17.

WWF-Philippines vice chairman and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan said, “It is encouraging to see new energies coming into the Cagayan Valley. The additional resources that IPC has committed to the Ilagan Watershed will not only benefit the hundreds of thousands of rice and corn farmers in the valley, but also provide new incomes for the families living on and around the buffer zones of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park.”

WWF is the world’s largest conservation organization and spearheads practical solutions to help the country adapt to climate change, secure food sources to alleviate poverty, conserve local ecosystems to reap natural benefits, empower communities to live low-impact lives, help corporations develop equitable, low-impact supply chains and promote renewable sources of clean energy. Like IPC, WWF is celebrating an important milestone in 2011, having marked its 50th anniversary in April.

IPC launched its latest environmental project in line with the United Nations’ proclamation of 2011 as International Year of the Forests (Forests for People), which focuses on reforestation and reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The results of this undertaking will also be reported to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in support of President Aquino’s National Greening Program under Executive Order 26, which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees from 2011 to 2016.

Isuzu began the tradition of celebrating its anniversary by launching social projects in 2002 when it organized an environment-themed show for the children of Biñan, Laguna. Last year, Isuzu adopted 13 hectares of forest at Mount Makiling in Laguna. The company also planted 300 native trees and constructed a 1.3-kilometer walkway inside the Makiling Botanical Garden.

Aside from these yearly activities, Isuzu Motors Ltd. of Japan is also funding an automotive-mechanic training center in Tacloban, Leyte, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Plan Philippines. This project started in 2008 and to date, there are already 67 Isuzu scholars who earned the government’s highest NC4 skills certification in the field of automotive service after a two-year course.

IPC also announced that the company has been granted environmental ISO certification 14001: 2004, further reducing the company’s operations’ impact on the environment.

In Photo: WWF-Philippines vice chairman and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan and IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki