The size is equivalent to about one-fifth of Megaworld’s total current landbank.
On Earth Day, property giant Megaworld reported that its green footprint is set to reach a new peak as it will soon triple its total carbon forest cover, a feat it achieved in just three years.
The company said that it has expanded significantly its footprint from only 240 hectares at the start of 2023 to about 1,500 hectares this year, and is seen to grow further as the company continues its partnership with key groups and organizations for its strategic reforestation and decarbonization program.
At present, Megaworld said it has planted more than 550,000 trees in different locations across the country—enabling the company to effectively capture about 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e).
Currently, Megaworld’s carbon forests are located in key areas within Quezon City, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, and Palawan in Luzon, and Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan, and Bacolod in the Visayas.
“This initiative further strengthens the group’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, promote biodiversity, and enhance livelihood support for its partner communities,” noted the company.
For his part, Jose Arnulfo Batac, head of sustainability at Megaworld said, “By adopting and caring for forest lands in key areas all over the country, we are taking decisive action to protect the environment and secure a greener future for generations of Filipinos.”
“We are grateful for the support of our partner communities and organizations who remain strategically aligned with our goal to embrace and promote sustainability,” he continued.
Megaworld continues to strengthen its sustainability partnerships with key organizations such as the Philippine Army and local community groups to significantly expand its carbon forest cover nationwide.
This reforestation and decarbonization initiative is part of the company’s Project Tree Point Five Million, which is aimed at growing 3.5 million native and endemic trees in its various townships and adopted communities across the Philippines.
Batac continued, “Our reforestation efforts drive measurable impact for our sustainability programs through three key pillars.“
First, he told, is planting native and endemic species directly captures and stores harmful greenhouse gases that would otherwise reach the atmosphere if left uncontained.
Secondly, this effort helps rebuild local ecosystems to support and protect native wildlife.
Lastly, the fruit-bearing trees like cacao help create sustainable livelihood opportunities that drive economic growth of its local community partners, he added.
Last year, the Project Tree Point Five Million alsp received the ‘Biodiversity Conservation Award’ at the ESG Business Awards 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, joining other standout corporate programs in the region recognized for their significant contributions to ESG practices.
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS IN OTHER SEGMENTS
Meanwhile, sustainability efforts anchored on the company’s various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs, has allowed Megaworld to successfully shift to 100% renewable energy for its company-owned office, mall, and hotel properties.
Additionally, other Megaworld sustainability programs were commended during the ESG Business Awards ceremony, including the company’s Goal Zero Waste Program (Waste Management Award); Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ Shift to 100% Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy Adoption Award); and Iloilo Business Park as Western Visayas’ first fully-integrated Smart Urban Township (Smart City Award).
“This is a significant step that enabled the company to achieve carbon neutrality for Scopes 1 and 2 within its commercial properties 10 years in advance, on the road to reaching carbon net zero by 2050,” they underscored.
These strategic sustainability initiatives, according to Megaworld, is part of its broader long-term sustainability program, MEGreen, which consolidates all environmental efforts under a unified platform aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).