Shell Tabangao launches Carbon Sink Management Programme
Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) Tabangao Refinery takes one step closer towards a greener world by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through the Carbon Sink Management Programme (CSMP).
Establishing and implementing CSMP is a requirement for Tabangao Refinery to mitigate its Carbon Dioxide emissions. It is also a requirement stipulated in the Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) for the Shell Tabangao Asset Renewal – Tabangao Refinery Euro-IV (P) Compliance (STAR-TREC) project.
Shell aims to plant a total of 83,000 seedlings of endemic and indigenous tree species in the 50-hectare land in Mt. Banahaw, Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon (under the jurisdiction of the National Power Corporation (NPC) – Makiling-Banahaw Watershed Management Department). As of this writing, 4,000 Narra seedlings have been planted.
CSMP was approved by DENR-EMB on January 29, 2016 and is expected to course until 2019. Moreover, it has provided additional livelihood and employment opportunities to local communities for the planting of seedlings and the maintenance and protection of the trees and reforestation site.
Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) manages the planting, maintenance, and protection of the tree seedlings on behalf of PSPC. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the two parties was held on November 25, 2016.
Shell Tabangao’s response in inhibiting climate change
CSMP is Shell’s part in suppressing climate change as one of the rapidly growing and primary concerns of humanity.
“We started to get the Euro-IV Compliance as the company’s direct response to the national government’s call for cleaner fuel products. From that one good thing for the environment, something else came,” shared Refinery General Manager Eduard Geus in recalling the STAR-TREC journey. “We have to be mindful that while we want to have a good living, we also have to make sure that the generations coming after us are still going to enjoy the world as we have today,” he added.
Edgardo Veron Cruz, PSFI Executive Director, shared the positive impacts of CSMP: “Let’s not think that this is Shell’s program, but a project of everyone because this will help in the preservation of our environment, water management, prevention of extreme soil erosion and flooding, and most importantly, in the reduction of greenhouse gases that trigger climate change.”
Emphasizing collaborative effort
Under the jurisdiction of NPC, the reforestation site is part of the Makiling-Banahaw Watershed and is supported by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). DENR and PAMB are closely monitoring the program while NPC safeguards the area.
With the solid sustenance of the Local Government of Dolores, a Memorandum of Partnership was also signed by officials of nearby barangay communities expressing enthusiasm in the partnership and commitment to make the program a success.
During the second quarter of 2017, the construction of the graded trail from NPC bunkhouse to the reforestation site was completed. And before the year ends, there will be a volunteer tree-planting activity for Shell employees.
By Jim Palma
Article published on PSFI news magazine October 2017 issue
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