1. Rationale

The devastation of Typhoon Yolanda on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the Philippines, have caused the leadership of Append to embrace environmental stewardship and pledged to protect ecological diversity which is the first mandate of God. Because when we protect the environment, we protect ourselves and the future generation. Planting and growing trees in the uplands, lowlands and coastlands are being implemented nationwide. We have planted a total of 349,220 trees all around the Philippines since 2014.

In 2023, the APPEND Board revitalized the TREES Program with a common tagline: “Isang Puso. Isang Puno, Para sa Panginoon”. The TREES program is inspired by the principles and practice of APPEND KASAMBAYANIHAN:

1. APPEND – is the first alliance of Christian microfinance non-government organizations in the Philippines. It was organized and created by the first microfinance NGOs in the Philippines to mobilize resources, promote environment care and protection. Monitors, documents, and reports Trees accomplishments.
2. KASAMA(like-minded people/organizations) – all APPEND members and individual client-members are together and working in unity to work as one to reforest the uplands and the shorelines.
3. SAMBA (worship) – Planting and caring of on trees and the natural environment is a form of worship to our Triune God who made the earth and everything that is in it.
4. BAYAN (community, nation)- we plant and care for trees for the love of our community and country
5. BAYANII (heroes) – the donors, board and staff and the local communities that plant, grow and care for trees and the environment are the new heroes.
6. ANIHAN (bountiful harvests) - when the forests are healthy and mangroves are robust, the farm lands and seas/rivers are protected and are able to produce foods for the communities and nation.

2. Goal: Reforest and develop climate resilient agriculture and communities to sustain the lives and livelihoods of the client-members’ households, member support organizations and their communities.

3. Objectives:

1. Plant and Grow FIVE MILLION Trees.
2. Append together with the MFI member champions to establish and strengthen linkages with people’s organizations, indigenous communities, Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and national government agencies such as DILG, DENR and DA and other pertinent organizations on Trees Project, sustainable livelihoods, and education on environment conservation practices
3. Protect, Strengthen & Sustain the well-being of the enterprising poor and the microfinance institutions pursuant to R.A. 8425 Poverty Alleviation Act and RA 10693 An Act Strengthening the Non-government organizations engaged with microfinance operations for the Poor or the the Microfinance NGOs Act.

4. APPEND Member TREE Champions:

1. TSPI Rizal and CALABARZON with the MPNRI FI Foundation as the learning hub and planting site in NCR.
2. KMBI for Bulacan and Mindanao region;
3. ASKI & Affiliates for Central Luzon;
4. TSKI & KMDC and Subsidiaries for Visayas and Palawan;
5. PALMFSI for Bicol Region.
6. KRCI for Negros Islands;
7. PAG-ASA for North Luzon;
8. viii. Learning hubs and prayer sites shall be developed in areas led by Partners champions.

5. Basis of the TREES Program - Arbor Day Act of 2012 (RA 10176)
Section 8 of the Arbor Day Act of 2012 mandates that all able-bodied citizens of the Philippines, who are at least twelve (12) years of age, shall be required to plant (1) tree every year.

6. Funding. The cost of native tree is PhP390.00 (USD$7.80)

NO.	PhP390.00 per tree includes
1	Seedling Production
2	Nursery Establishment
3	Site Preparation & planting
4	Site geo-tagging
5	3 - year seedling/site monitoring
6	3 - year site maintenance
7	Microfinance and enterprise development services
8	Community Training
9	Donor E- certificate of appreciation
10	Tree Registration
11	Birth Certificate
12	Block Chain
13	Community Projects
14	KASAMBAYANIHAN (Eco-Spirituality Centers)