Holcim Philippines - Butterfly farm at the cement plant

Holcim Philippines’ Lugait plant has taken the initiative to provide livelihood opportunities to its community through the plant’s butterfly garden. The garden was established at the cement plant in Misamis Oriental in September 2007.

In line with its philosophy of corporate social responsibility, the plant has sponsored workshops on butterfly breeding and production of ornamental items from dead butterflies. The workshops also included a component on how to market these ornamental products such as bookmarks, framed butterflies and butterflies in wine glasses. Participants to the workshops were employees, students from various schools, employees of contractors and residents from the host communities.

Owing to the aspiration of the Holcim Lugait Plant to enhance the ecosystem within the plant, the butterfly garden was established to nurture various species which are gradually becoming extinct. Increasing the population of butterflies is important because of their vital role as pollinators. They are also good indicators of the ecological quality of a habitat. According to Lorenzo Pendang, Officer – In – Charge, plant manager at Lugait, “Butterflies are very sensitive to changes in the environment and help warn us about unhealthy changes that are taking place. The butterflies are a sign that our plant has a healthy environment.”

Today, the butterfly garden inside Holcim Philippines-Lugait plant has become an ecotourism attraction in Misamis Oriental. Residents, students, government employees and officials, and even foreign visitors flock to the cement plant to observe different species of butterflies, one of nature’s most fascinating creatures. According to Julius Baliog, Mining, Environment and CSR manager of Holcim Lugait, “We conduct educational tours for students from neighboring cities and provinces like Iligan. The butterfly farm is also often visited by biologists and foreign dignitaries. That is why The Iligan City Tourism Council, through Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz, is proposing to make Holcim Philippines-Lugait Plant as part of the city’s tourists’ itinerary.” The butterfly garden within the Holcim cement plant has also inspired local government units of the host communities to replicate the project.

Other community-based projects of the Lugait plant include a reforestation program for a 500-hectare idle site near the plant, an herb garden, and an orchidarium.