“PlantSmart” program gives out 7,400 planting kits to over 200 communities in PH in 2022

CEBU CITY -- PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has seen homes, schools and urban gardens bloom under its “PlantSmart” program that distributed more than 7,400 planting kits to over 200 communities nationwide in 2022.

Cathy Yang, PLDT and Smart FVP and Group Head for Corporate Communications thanked all partners who helped conceive, build and actualize the PlantSmart programs. Through these collaborations, the Group underscores its commitment to sustainability and shared value programs to benefit farmers and Filipino communities.

“PlantSmart program demonstrates the Group’s commitment to food security and sustainability in the country, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG): Zero hunger, good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities and responsible consumption production,” Yang said.

More than 1,500 planting kits with vegetable seeds, loam soil and organic fertilizer were distributed to schools, people’s organizations, and local government units in VisMin, encouraging communities to grow their own food, Yang added.

In October, PLDT and Smart also turned over 600 planting kits to 20 partner-cooperatives in Vismin and with the donation of PlantSmart kits, the cities of Ormoc, Digos, Butuan and Cotabato were inspired to promote their own urban-planting programs.

“We are grateful to be chosen as partners for this effort that is aligned with the Department of Agriculture’s Plant, Plant, Plant program. A lot of us are interested in having our own small gardens at home, and with these free planting kits, we can finally start,” Cotabato City administrator, Atty. Aelan Arumpac shared.

Rev. Fr. Jimmy Tolintin, Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bantayan Island, Cebu is leading its farmer-parishioners to develop their church’s backyard lot into a farm.  Fr. Tolintin thanked PLDT/Smart for helping them build the farm at the parish.

“We will maximize these kits to help provide food and livelihood for our people in Madridejos,” he said.

According to Yang, the PlantSmart planting kits also helped 30 Mindanao schools reestablish their Gulayan sa Paaralan Program at the start of in-person classes in August this year.

The Group also started a PlantSmart GrowHub in Cagayan de Oro City, following the successful launch of its GrowHub in Makati.  The GrowHub is an edible garden grown by PLDT and Smart employees in idle office spaces, to encourage volunteerism and champion sustainability through urban gardening.  More PlantSmart GrowHubs will be sprouting in Bukidnon soon, Yang said. (Photos: PLDT/Smart FB)