Over 210,000 native trees will be planted in vital watersheds by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. as this year’s annual reforestation initiative.
For this year’s “Plant for Life” program, Maynilad has promised a 133 percent increase in target trees compared to last year, when they planted over 90,000.
Tree saplings and mangrove propagules will be placed in a land area with an estimate of 525 hectares at the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan, Kaliwa Watershed in Quezon Province, La Mesa watershed in Quezon City, and Manila Bay coastline in Cavite Province.
Quality, Sustainability and Resiliency (QSR) Head, Atty. Roel S. Espiritu said that their tree-planting measures to mitigate climate change will have a long-term impact on protecting Metro Manila’s water sources.
“It not only enhances carbon sequestration, it also increases the soil’s water-retention capacity, thus preventing erosion in watersheds that could lead to high turbidity in the raw water supply,” he explained.
He also added that the concessionaire is focusing on improving the forest cover at Mt. Balagbag in Bulacan, which is now stripped of its greenery.
Furthermore, Maynilad will push through with its Plant for Life program with the help of volunteers from private and public organizations. This includes their sister companies such as PLDT/Smart.
They have also coordinated with farmers from Mt. Balagbag, local communities, indigenous people, and Bantay Gubat to maintain the trees and sustain their high survival rate.
Since the program’s inception in 2007, more than 1 million trees have helped their reforestation process.
Maynilad continues to be the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines. Its service area includes the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and all in Metro Manila. They also handle cities of Cavite, Bacoor, Imus, and Cavite Province. (Gabriell Christel Galang)