Orani Water District fulfills mission to plant 50,000 trees in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Orani Water District (OWD) has completed its mission to plant 50,000 trees in Tala watershed area after five years of reforestation project.

OWD General Manager Benni Andres said the reforestation project held last August 23 planted more than 10,000 Tibig tree seedlings at the watershed area in the upland Barangay Tala, Orani town.

“Masaya kami na kahit umuulan o masama ang panahon, marami ang nag-volunteer sa aming fifth year of reforestation project (We are happy that despite the rain and bad weather, many had volunteered in the fifth year of the reforestation project),’’ Andres said.

He said sectors from the government and non-government organizations, as well as OWD employees participated in the tree-planting activity.

The water district is nurturing 28 hectares watershed area, which is part of the Bataan National Park.

For the past five years, OWD has been organizing a fun run for a cause to raise funds for the water district’s reforestation program. During its recent event, OWD had raised 1116,960 which was used in the planting activity.

Andres said that their reforestation effort at the Tala watershed area aims to preserve Orani aquifers.

“We have to protect and preserve our source of water by reforesting watershed areas,” Andres added.