Digido, UnaCash volunteers plant over 700 trees at Tanay, Rizal as part of commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development

Deforestation and forest degradation remain major global threats while growth in protected area coverage of key biodiversity areas has largely stalled.

Manila, Philippines | November 2023 – Digido Finance Corp. (DFC), operator of award-winning consumer finance platform Digido and in-app and in-store finance solutions provider UnaCash, planted 710 tree saplings and seedlings during its latest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activity in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal.

With support from the Rizal provincial government, nearly 40 employees and management of DFC took part during the activity, planting an assortment of native and fruit-bearing trees that included narra, dao, bani, soursop, cashew and jackfruit. Those involved were also given a refresher course on the essential techniques in proper tree planting and aftercare.

Volunteers from online payment gateway DragonPay, a trusted partner of Digido and UnaCash, also took part during the event and made a monetary donation to support the company’s initiative.

Ahead of the event, DFC also mobilized creative, in-house fundraising efforts to add more tree saplings and seedlings for planting.

Deforestation and forest degradation remain major global threats while growth in protected area coverage of key biodiversity areas has largely stalled, according to this year’s edition of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Report.

Tree planting activities in designated areas in Barangay Cuyambay are expected to aid in the conservation of the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve (KWFR) and the larger Sierra Madre mountain range. The KWFR plays a significant role in regulating the flow of water towards the National Capital Region while the Sierra Madre has historically shielded urban dwellers from unfavorable weather generated in the Pacific Ocean.

“We are incredibly glad to have planted over 700 trees for this initiative, which is our humble contribution to global efforts related to biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient development. While we are a digitally native business, we affirm the essential value of nature by doing our part to take care of the planet,” Digido country manager Farit Shakirov said.

UnaCash president Aleksei Kosenko added: “We hope our tree planting activity in this community is our first of many. Alleviating the effects of climate change is a daunting task for all, but we believe it is imperative, especially for industries, to proactively contribute where we can to build a more sustainable future.”