GCash, Wovoka plant 1M trees in Mindoro and Camarines Norte

Fintech giant GCash has joined forces with climate tech developer Wovoka Philippines to plant over one million native trees and mangroves. Signed in observance of Philippine Arbor Day, the five-year agreement runs from 2026 through 2030, targeting vulnerable forest and coastal ecosystems across Camarines Norte and Oriental Mindoro.

The large-scale restoration project directly addresses local deforestation and coastal degradation, which leave provincial towns highly exposed to worsening storm surges, erosion, and flash floods. By combining tech-driven monitoring with environmental science, the initiative aims to rebuild critical watersheds, improve natural coastal defenses, and increase the regions’ overall carbon absorption capacity.

Filipinos can actively back the project through the GForest feature on the GCash app. By completing everyday cashless transactions, users accumulate green energy points that can be converted into virtual trees. GCash and Wovoka then translate these digital points into real-world planting efforts. To ensure optimal survival rates and support local wildlife, the project adheres to strict ecological guidelines by planting exclusively native and site-appropriate flora.

GCash General Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Communications Michelle Fernandez highlighted the real-world impact of the digital platform, stating that through this “tech for good partnership with Wovoka Philippines, we are utilizing the scale of GCash to build real-world ecological barriers and secure green livelihoods for the communities that need them most.”

Beyond ecological restoration, the partnership is structured to generate green livelihoods for local farming and coastal families. Community members will be directly employed to plant, monitor, and patrol the sites over the five-year timeline. This framework provides families with predictable, year-round stipends to bridge seasonal income gaps, turning regional environmental conservation into a viable long-term economic driver. South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa also shared a positive outlook on the broader collaborative effort, expressing high confidence that the initiative will “deliver lasting benefits for the Filipino people.”

For more information, visit the GCash official site.