HortiHelpers Blooms with Ayala Land

Alagang AyalaLand partners with horticulture social enterprises to enhance estate landscaping

Ayala Land (ALI) takes pride in its beautiful landscape and lush greenery. The estate landscape development master plan capitalizes on green and open spaces that require at least 500 trees and 150,000 shrubs each year, and need an estimate of 8,000 new trees in the next 5 years for new estates.

This growing demand will continue, therefore access to high quality trees and plant specimens is a challenge. HortiHelpers is one of two landscape initiatives under Alagang AyalaLand (AAL) that aims to fulfill this demand.

As AAL continues to assist vulnerable social enterprises (SE) and small businesses to regain their footing, HortiHelpers collaborates with SEs in the horticulture industry to provide ALI with trees and plants for its new developments that are at par with ALI’s landscaping standards. Aside from the benefit of consistent and high quality planting supply, the program also highlights its support to the local community by employing displaced personnel.

One of the employed personnel of the HortiHelpers program

Provided areas within AyalaLand Estates (ALEI) are cultivated by hired local workers with plants and trees used by the estates. These locally-used shrubs are then purchased to be used in ALI properties.

The initiative was launched in Vermosa last 2021 during the peak of the pandemic to provide jobs to displaced workers and to produce adequate ornamental supply for the estate. The project progressed and added value to the businesses and communities that Vermosa serves with its integrated and mixed-use ecosystem.

Alagang AyalaLand launched HortiHelpers in Vermosa last 2021 in partnerships with social enterprise Luntian Plant Boutique

The project quickly grew to other estates and subsidiaries such as Alviera and Amaia Land.

As the initiative expanded to more locations, ornamental growers of landscape were recruited to create more livelihood opportunities to nearby communities. HortiHelpers also partnered with a farmers cooperative to ensure that demand is guaranteed and more farmers are tapped.

With all the expansions, the project is true to its goal of building a brighter and greener future together. HortiHelpers is currently present in nine ALI locations nationwide (Vermosa, Alviera, Bonifacio Global City, Cebu I.T. Park, Azuela Cove, Cebu Business Park, Amaia Land, and Arca South) and has produced over 50,000 shrubs from over 50 ornamental farmers. The overall program implementation is led by the Landscape Management Group of Ayala Property Management Corporation Estate Management Group to ensure that scheduled planting requirements are provided on time and to standard.

Locally-used shrubs that contribute to the required 500 trees and 150,000 shrubs each year in Ayala Land properties

This initiative is part of Alagang AyalaLand, ALI’s community engagement program to generate livelihood through social enterprises, provide disaster relief, and promote a sustainable environment. Alagang AyalaLand is part of Ayala Land’s overall Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program.

With 49 estates across the country including the recently launched Areza and Crossroads estates, Ayala Land hosts its diversified portfolio of complementary businesses including development of residential, office, commercial, and industrial properties for sale; commercial leasing through shopping centers, offices, hotels, resorts, factory buildings, warehouses, co-living, and co-working spaces; services such as construction, property management, retail energy supply, and airlines; and strategic property-related investments. Ayala Land is celebrating 34 years of enhancing land and enriching lives for more people.

Shrubs in Alviera to be used for the estate