6,000 saplings planted in Sierra Madre in KMC Solutions reforestation push

Antipolo, Philippines - August 21, 2026 - KMC Solutions planted 6,000 saplings at Gabriel's Sanctuary this week, part of a reforestation push in the Sierra Madre mountain range carried out with support from the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST). The site, a DENR and Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape-accredited reforestation area, is part of the broader effort to restore the Upper Marikina Watershed. 

Held as part of KMC Solutions' Corporate Social Responsibility program, the activity brought together 200 volunteers and employees who planted 6,000 saplings in a single day, contributing directly to the restoration of one of the country's most critical watersheds.

"We've got people from all departments across KMC, all coming together, knowing that they're giving back to the community and the environment," said Tom Craig, Senior Vice President for Global Sales at KMC Solutions. "It's been really impactful — not just in how we support these local communities, but in bringing the team together."

Among the volunteers on the ground was Macky, who was planting a tree for the first time and said the experience left him thinking about what the mountain range could look like generations from now. His appeal to future volunteers: "Help us to save nature, because in 2090, we might not see Sierra Madre. And we know that Sierra Madre is our savior from the typhoons.”

The Upper Marikina Watershed plays a key role in the region's water supply and flood mitigation, making its reforestation a priority for both environmental and community resilience.

Coordinating a planting of this scale required sourcing 6,000 saplings, organizing volunteer shifts, and mapping planting zones across the sanctuary. As a CSR partner, ASSIST supported KMC on that planning, helping translate the day into measurable environmental impact for the watershed as well as the volunteers.

The Grow Green Tree Planting Activity 2026 adds to a growing body of environmental initiatives led by ASSIST and companies like KMC Solutions aimed at supporting reforestation efforts across critical Philippine watersheds.

-----------

ASSIST (Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation) is a self-sustaining pan-Asian NGO working at the intersection of social impact and sustainable transformation. True to its role as a Partner for Progress, ASSIST collaborates with corporate and institutional funders to deliver co-created initiatives as well as award-winning flagship programs that convert social investments into lasting local capacity. Explore our work and partner with us: www.assistasia.org