Manulife Philippines Broadens Partnership with Haribon Foundation to Plant 15,000 Mangrove Trees in Quezon

L-R: Harshal Shah (Manulife Asia Chief Marketing and Experience Design Officer); Rahul Hora (Manulife Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer); Sonali Verma (Manulife Philippines Chief Marketing Officer); Arlie Endonila (Haribon Foundation Chief Operating Officer)

Expanded partnership between Manulife and Haribon furthers the insurer’s Impact Agenda commitments to accelerate a sustainable future. Manulife backs Haribon’s largest mangrove restoration program and supports the development of surrounding communities benefiting their livelihoods.

Manulife Philippines, the local arm of the leading international financial services provider Manulife, and nature conservation group Haribon Foundation have broadened their ongoing partnership, which now includes a mangrove restoration program in Infanta, Quezon Province. This follows a mangrove planting event and biodiversity discussions held on May 29 and 30, 2025, as part of Haribon’s ‘Forests for Life’ conservation campaign.

Manulife Philippines recently expanded its partnership with the Haribon Foundation to support mangrove restoration and conservation efforts as part of its environmental sustainability initiatives. Manulife volunteers and Haribon Foundation community partners work together to plant mangrove seedlings to protect vital marine habitats and coastal communities.

Shown in the photo are Manulife executives **Sonali Verma** (third from left), **Harshal Shah** (fourth from left), and **Rahul Hora** (seventh from left), along with Manulife colleagues and Impact Agenda partners from Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation.

Manulife Philippines: Impact Agenda

Under its Impact Agenda, Manulife Philippines aims to create a stronger, more responsible business that contributes to positive global change by promoting inclusive economic growth and fostering a sustainable future.

As part of the expanded partnership, Manulife Philippines and Haribon Foundation aim to plant a total of 15,000 mangrove seedlings in conservation areas over the next three years, focusing on high-priority sites identified by Haribon’s foresters and local environmental authorities. These ecosystems are crucial for shoreline protection, marine habitats, and carbon sequestration.

As part of the broadened partnership, Manulife Philippines and Haribon Foundation organize community tree-planting initiatives to promote reforestation and environmental awareness. Participants worked collaboratively to plant native tree species, contributing to forest restoration efforts and carbon sequestration programs in local communities.

In their expanded partnership, Manulife Philippines and the Haribon Foundation organize community tree-planting initiatives to promote reforestation and environmental awareness. Participants collaborate to plant native trees, contributing to forest restoration efforts and carbon sequestration programs within local communities.

Reinforcing the Protection of the Sierra Madre

Earlier this year, colleagues of Manulife Philippines prepared 1,000 native seedlings in Tanay, Rizal to be planted in Kaliwa Watershed Reserve, which reinforces the protection of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Since the partnership was formed in 2022, over 21,250 native tree seedlings have been planted in 17 hectares of land across the Luzon provinces of Quezon, Rizal, and Zambales.

The mangrove restoration program comes at a time of concerning environmental trends. The Philippines has seen a dramatic decline in mangrove forests, with a loss of approximately 140,000 hectares since 1920. The World Bank projects climate change could reduce the country’s GDP by up to 13.6 percent by 2040 according to their Philippines Country Climate and Development Report, which makes these conservation efforts increasingly vital. “In the Philippines, coastal ecosystems are vital for both communities and the environment. Through our collaboration with Haribon Foundation’s Forests for Life movement, we are supporting the conservation and protection of vital mangrove area,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

“These mangrove restorations help shield coastal communities from storm surges while creating nurseries for fish, which support local fisherfolks and enable them to sustain their livelihood.”

Manulife Philippines and Haribon Foundation Expand Partnership

Manulife Philippines and Haribon Foundation announced the expansion of their collaboration, as part of Haribon’s ‘Forests for Life’ conservation campaign, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection and community resilience in addressing climate change challenges.

“Environmental challenges require locally tailored solutions,” said Harshal Shah, Chief Marketing and Experience Design Officer, Manulife Asia. “We’re excited to be working with partners like the Haribon Foundation to implement practical solutions guided by local knowledge and needs. Through this expanded collaboration with the Haribon Foundation, we are also advancing our Impact Agenda in the Philippines by driving inclusive economic opportunities and accelerating a sustainable future.”

“Love, Chuck” brings global campaign to life with distinct Filipino flavor

Beyond environmental impacts, the initiative also focuses on community development. Participants visited Haribon Foundation’s community partners in different barangays, including groups focused on the sustainable production of cassava chips, coconut jam, and herbal teas, as well as the women’s empowerment organization KALIPI in Infanta.

“In areas where we’ve worked, women have established small businesses selling products, such as lemongrass tea and kaya jam using resources from the restored forests. As ecosystems recover, communities find new opportunities for their livelihood—helping drive inclusive economic opportunity,” shared Sonali Verma, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines.

Arlie Endonila, Chief Operating Officer, Haribon Foundation, emphasized this dual approach: “Our initiatives aim to strike a balance between environmental conservation and community well-being. We ensure that local communities can continue to benefit from their natural resources, such as fishery livelihoods, while protecting our critical ecosystems. This dual focus reinforces the idea that ecological and economic sustainability can align to create positive outcomes for both our people and the planet.”

**L-R**: **Rahul Hora** (Manulife Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer); **Harshal Shah** (Manulife Asia Chief Marketing and Experience Design Officer); **Sonali Verma** (Manulife Philippines Chief Marketing Officer); **Arlie Endonila** (Haribon Foundation Chief Operating Officer); **Frandel Recto** (Haribon Foundation Board of Trustees); **Erika Bergara** (Haribon Foundation Strategic Partnerships Manager)

Manulife Philippines Reinforces Eco-Commitment with Haribon Foundation Partnership

Manulife Philippines strengthened its environmental commitment through a strategic partnership with Haribon Foundation, supporting nature conservation and community-based environmental programs across the Philippines. Under this expanded partnership, Haribon Foundation’s largest mangrove restoration program, Manulife has also committed to plant 15,000 mangrove seedlings in Quezon Province.

“We thank the Manulife team for the continued partnership. This deepens our commitment to environmental sustainability and exemplifies the power of collaboration between the corporate sector, environmental organizations, and community-led actions. Together, we help to protect and preserve the planet we all share, while uplifting communities and improving lives,” added Endonila. This partnership aligns to Manulife’s Impact Agenda. As climate impacts intensify, these targeted environmental investments demonstrate how financial institutions can help accelerate a sustainable future while delivering on their core promise of long-term security and financial protection for Filipinos.