In an effort to help create awareness on the importance of saving the environment and its endangered species, Nokia, together with Globe Telecom, Ayala Foundation and the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. (PTFI), today announced their partnership that aims to raise funds to help preserve the local tarsier through a mobile phone recycling program.



Dubbed “i-rEcover. I-rEcycle,” the program aims to attract the general public, including Globe and non-Globe subscribers, as well as Nokia and non-Nokia users, to donate old mobile phones by bringing them to the cellphone recycling bins located in Globe stores and at Ayala malls.



For every old mobile phone collected for recycling, Nokia will donate P100 to the PTFI to support programs for preserving the Philippine tarsier and its habitat. And, if you donate a “complete” mobile phone (even without its battery and related accessories) to any Globe store or during the Ayala Recyclables Fair, you will receive a Nokia Eco-item for your contribution.



“Nokia’s environmental commitment has driven it to pursue sustainable means such as the recovering and recycling of mobile phones, mobile phone batteries and related mobile phone accessories, which not only help preserve nature and save endangered species, but also reflect responsible operations. Worldwide, Nokia has been partnering with different organizations who share this vision,” said Francis Cheong, Senior Sustainability Manager, Nokia-South East Asia Pacific.



“We are fortunate to have found partners with a similar commitment to environmental preservation. We are thus honored to be allied with Globe Telecom, Ayala Foundation and PTFI who are all equally dedicated to protecting the environment and encouraging more people to participate in this very important cause,” he added.


“Globe Telecom has always been one with the world in pursuing environmental sustainability. We welcome this partnership as this is another important step in helping preserve the country’s biodiversity while instilling in the minds of the public the importance of responsible disposal of old mobile phones,” related Yoly C. Crisanto, head of corporate communications, Globe Telecom.


Ayala Foundation Senior Director Mario Deriquito also expressed how this partnership aligns with the company’s commitment to creating public awareness on environment protection. “We’ve been stepping up our drive to help educate the public on the value of saving the environment by making Ayala Malls more environment-friendly and initiating green programs throughout the year. We couldn’t be more delighted to be part of this partnership, which encourages patrons of Ayala Malls to learn about the importance of recycling while helping save our endangered tarsiers.”


The Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc., on the other hand, welcomes such efforts from the private sector to support its advocacies. Added president Urbano Lagunay, “It is high time that more efforts are initiated to stop the continuing decline of the indigenous tarsier population. We thank Nokia, Globe Telecom and Ayala Foundation for spearheading this program, as funds that will be donated from recycling old cellphones will be of immense help in our mission to protect the Philippine tarsier and its habitat.”


The program will run from September 2011 to August 2012. Participants may visit any of Globe’s 140 stores nationwide or Ayala malls located in Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Bonifacio High Street, Market! Market!, Trinoma, and Metropoint Mall, Pasay here in Metro Manila; and at Pavilion Mall in Biñan, Laguna; Solenad-Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; MarQuee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga; Ayala Center Cebu; and Abreeza Mall Davao.