In a push towards promoting coastal resilience and biodiversity restoration, employees and management of Digido Finance Corp. (DFC), the operator behind the award-winning fintech platforms Digido and UnaCash, planted 1,161 mangroves in Barangay Camachile, Orion, Bataan.
The initiative was part of the company’s latest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activity.
The event saw participation from over 30 volunteers from DFC, who worked alongside the Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc. The volunteers planted various mangrove species including bakauan-lalaki (Rhizophora apiculata), bakauan-babae (Rhizophora mucronata), Bungalon (Avicennia marina), and Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba). These mangroves are crucial for the local ecosystem and serve as a primary source of livelihood for the Samahan Ugnayan sa Pangisdaan ng Orion, Bataan (SUGPO), a municipal-wide association of village-level fishers.
Support for the event came from the company’s trusted partners, Dragonpay and Macrokiosk, which contributed various resources. DFC also initiated in-house creative fundraising efforts prior to the event to secure additional mangroves for planting.
Mangroves are known for their significant environmental benefits, including disaster risk reduction—mitigating flooding, lessening storm surges, and protecting coastal communities. Additionally, mangrove forests are recognized for their ability to store carbon, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
Diane Tinoko, head of human resources and administration at Digido Finance Corp., emphasized the importance of the initiative. “When there was an opportunity to create further awareness about the importance of mangrove rehabilitation and restoration, the company immediately decided to conduct this project. We recognize how nature-based solutions such as this one are important for the Philippines to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events and are thankful to our staff and trusted partners for having the same drive to make our communities more sustainable,” she stated.
