The members of the Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) planted native tree seedlings at Sitio Saw Mill, SapangBato, Angeles City for the recently-concluded fifth expansion of the Forever Forest Project.

YTPI President Tetsuya Nagao and Executive Vice President Kazutoshi Morimoto led the tree-planting activity in collaboration with the Angeles City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) headed by their Officer-in-Charge Archimedes Lazatin. This is in support of the Angeles City’s plan to develop the area into a Forest Park in the near future and to protect the Angeles watershed. A total of 250 seedlings were planted as part of the Japanese tire manufacturing company’s 25^th year anniversary in the Philippines.

“Forever Forest is one of our banner environment programs. We have been doing this annually for 13 years straight now and we intend to continue doing this initiative in the years to come. Initially, we started this project by planting various native trees inside the YTPI plant. Then, in 2017, we expanded the project and started planting seedlings outside the premises of the company,” said YTPI Vice President for Administration Division Angelina Casasola.

Since the inception of the YTPI Forever Forest in August 2008, the total number of trees planted inside and outside the YTPI plant has now reached 44,342. The tree seedlings once full grown will help in absorbing carbon dioxide in the air.

Forever Forest is a long term, global initiative by YTPI’s parent company, the Yokohama Rubber Company (YRC), as part of its mandate of preserving the environment. Members of the Yokohama Tire Sales Philippines, Inc. (YTSPI) also joined the tree-planting activity.