MWSS BARES ANNUAL 1M TREES PROJECT

To ensure water security and protect the environment, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will launch on Friday a reforestation project that aims to plant one million trees every year for five years in six critical watershed areas.

Dubbed as the “Annual Million Tree Challenge,” the tree planting project will be launched at Ipo Dam in Bulacan, which is downstream of Angat Dam, the major source of water for Metro Manila residents and some nearby provinces.

The challenge serves as the launching activity in preparation for the 140-year anniversary of MWSS on Feb. 18, 2018.

“Conservation of water sources and the protection of the environment have always been a part of the mandate of the MWSS,” MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco told a press conference. “Together with our concessionaires—Maynilad, Manila Water, Bulacan Bulk Water Project—we seek to ensure clean and potable water for all our residents. This project [will] guarantee that we are also protected [from] natural calamities such as floods.”

Velasco expressed hope that the Annual Million Tree Challenge would also be carried on by the next leaders whowould come after them. “I am elated that in a short period of time, we have gathered more than enough support to launch this Annual Million Tree Challenge,” he said.

Aside from Ipo Dam, five other targeted watershed areas are Umiray, Angat, La Mesa, Marikina and Laguna Lake watersheds, which are all vital as Metro Manila’s sources of drinking water. Once the trees are planted, the MWSS chief assured that these would be maintained, nurtured, and protected.

“Long-term, we look at the integrated watershed management plan that sustains the protection of these watersheds. It is important to note that these watersheds are crucial because they directly link to our use of clean and potable water,” he said.

Manila Water chief operating officer Geodino Carpio said they planned to plant 120,000 trees covering 300 hectares in La Mesa Watershed.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region director Lourdes Wagan said the DENR would provide enough seedlings to be planted at the six targeted watersheds.

So far, the total number of committed trees for this year stands at 1,050,000, with MWSS at 70,000 trees, Manila Water at 120,000 and Maynilad Water at 50,000.