Partnerships in environmental work are often measured in outputs—trees planted, hectares restored, communities reached. But the ones that endure are built on something less easily quantIFed: trust.
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.’s One to Tree’s (RAFI OTT) partnership with ICTSI Foundation, Inc. (IF), has been shaped by exactly that. Over the years, what began as a shared initiative has grown into a steady collaboration; one that has expanded in scale and deepened in purpose, anchored by mutual confidence in each other’s work and in the communities they serve.
One to Tree is the national tree-growing program of RAFI, which champions native tree growing in the Philippines as a practical way to restore ecosystems, support biodiversity, and create lasting environmental impact. For over 20 years, it has led reforestation and environmental conservation efforts across Cebu, Davao, and Batangas—achieving an average survival rate of 80% while contributing to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and compliance with government environmental standards.
A Partnership That Started Early
When RAFI OTT began offering its tree-growing initiatives in Batangas in 2022, IF was among the first organizations to place its trust in the initiative. The collaboration first took shape in the upland areas of Balayan and Tuy, Batangas, where both partners aligned around a shared goal: to restore degraded land while supporting the communities who depend on it.
As Francis J G. Bartolome, Program Operations Manager at IF, shared:
“[in Filipino] We had already been in discussions even before the pandemic. At first, we were still getting to know RAFI. Based on their track record in Cebu, it was clear that they were very effective in implementing their program through ‘One to Tree.’ Their proven experience convinced us to support the expansion of their operations and to begin work here in Luzon, particularly in Batangas.”
With IF’s support, RAFI OTT worked alongside local farmers to produce and plant 45,150 native tree seedlings across 90.3 hectares. Farmers organized under groups such as the Samahan ng mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries of Brgy. Lucban, the Calan Farmers Association, and the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Kababaihan of Brgy. Dao were not treated merely as beneficiaries, but as active partners in the process.
Through training in farm planning and plantation management, they were equipped with both the skills and the confidence to manage their land more productively. IF’s role extended beyond enabling the project; it helped build a model grounded in long-term value and community ownership.
This became the foundation of the partnership: a shared belief that when communities are trusted and empowered, they can sustain meaningful change.
Expanding Through Shared Purpose
As RAFI OTT expanded its work into coastal ecosystems, ICTSI Foundation renewed its partnership, carrying forward the same trust that defined their early collaboration.
In February 2025, the partnership entered its second chapter through a mangrove growing initiative in Lian, Batangas, demonstrating their continued commitment to improving ecosystems while adding value to our coastal communities.
As Jay Ejares, Program Head at ICTSI Foundation, shared:
“We chose to continue the partnership because it has proven to be output-driven and transparent. RAFI is willing to walk an extra mile to achieve target outputs and prioritize the welfare of the communities they are working with.”
Rather than standing apart, each effort has been co-built, with lessons carried forward and applied, resulting in deeper ecological impact and stronger community capacity. Working together, the partners committed to the production, planting, and maintenance of 25,000 mangrove seedlings across two sites, with the goal of enriching approximately 2.5 hectares of the mangrove area.
The initiative placed strong emphasis on community involvement. Fisherfolk organizations--the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Binubusan (SMMB), Lian Fisherfolk Association (LFA), and Samahang Mandaragat ng Banoyo (SMB)--became central to the effort. Through technical training, sustainability planning, and livelihood integration, the project reinforced a consistent approach: invest in communities, strengthen their capacity, and ensure that environmental outcomes are directly linked to improved well-being.
Growing with Confidence
Now in 2026, in another coastal town of Brgy. Binubusan, Lian, Batangas, IF continues to stand alongside RAFI OTT with a third initiative to rehabilitate mangrove ecosystems through the planting of 20,000 seedlings, covering an estimated 2 hectares of mangrove cover. Around 90 members from the LFA and SMMB are directly engaged, trained in all aspects of mangrove restoration, from nursery establishment to long-term maintenance.
With all this, livelihood remains integral. Participation in these activities provides income, while co-developed sustainability plans aim to ensure continued economic benefits, including at least a 2% increase in household income.
Even as the enriched sites continue to expand, the approach remains the same: investing in people, strengthening long-term systems, and progressing together.
What Makes It Endure
Across both upland and coastal landscapes, the signs of progress for environmental enrichment are evident—thriving trees, sustainable livelihood and more empowered communities. Yet beyond these visible gains, it is the partnership consistency over time that truly defines its strength.
ICTSI Foundation has remained present across phases, not just supporting initiatives but growing alongside them. Each effort builds lasting impact, strengthening both ecological outcomes and community capacity. Trust has made it possible to evolve from farmers to fisherfolk, from tree growing to mangrove rehabilitation, from individual projects to long-term, interconnected efforts.
Still Growing
Today, the landscapes of Balayan, Tuy, and the shores of Lian, and San Luis, Batangas reflect more than restoration as they reflect what sustained partnership can achieve.
As Amaya Christina A. Fansler, President and CEO of RAFI, aptly shared:
“For 60 years, our work has really been anchored on enabling resilient, prosperous communities in Cebu and beyond. This project, the One to Tree program, aims to do exactly that. Mangrove planting strengthens community resilience—it protects and helps increase biodiversity. As RAFI, we are committed to best practices, and to impact. It’s not just about the ceremony, but about seeing the results. We’re very proud to be recognized by a group like ICTSI [Foundation], known for its excellence, a global Filipino company, as a partner worthy of their trust and investment.”
With partners like ICTSI Foundation, the impact of each tree planted, each mangrove restored, and each community engaged does not remain within a single initiative. It grows, expands, and strengthens over time.
Partnerships show that environmental stewardship is never a solitary effort—it grows and compounds through collaboration, and when partnerships endure, so does the future they collectively create.
