Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has joined as a member of the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Reforestation, announced during the Regular Session on November 12, 2025.
The Special Committee on Reforestation shall handle all matters directly relating to policies and programs on reforestation, including the effects of forest denudation, and other actions to ensure the implementation of a sustained community-based nationwide reforestation program.
Lazatin’s membership in the Special Committee comes immediately after his filing of House Resolution No. 446, which directs the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to strictly monitor the implementation of the Angeles City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2021-2030 with respect to the protected agricultural land and ‘no build’ zone in the Sapangbato Watershed in Angeles City.
Since his time as Angeles City Mayor, Lazatin has strongly advocated for the protection and preservation of the Sapangbato Watershed.
The Angeles City CLUP was approved during his term, which identified a total of 546 hectares of land located in the upland areas of Barangay Sapangbato as ‘protected agricultural land’ and designated as a ‘no build’ zone, prohibiting the construction of buildings within the area.
Under Lazatin’s leadership, the Angeles City LGU also launched a massive reforestation program in the Sapangbato Watershed, in partnership with the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI), founded by the late Renato “Abong” Tayag, Jr.
By the time Lazatin stepped down from office, a total of 145,041 seedlings had been planted in the watershed.
As Pampanga First District Representative, one of the first legislation filed by Lazatin is House Bill No. 2423, “An Act Declaring Sapangbato as a Protected Area in the Province of Pampanga, Providing For Its Management And For Other Purposes.”
Among other things, HB 2423 prohibits poaching, killing, destroying, or disturbing any wildlife, including private lands, within the protected area; cutting, gathering, removing or collecting timber within the protected area, including private lands, without necessary permit, authorization, certification of planted trees or exemption; dumping, throwing, using, or causing to be dumped into or places in the protected area of any toxic chemical, noxious or poisonous substance or non-biodegradable material, untreated sewage or animal waste or products; prospecting, hunting or otherwise locating hidden treasure within the protected area; and purchasing or selling, mortgaging or leasing lands or other portions of the protected area which are covered by any tenurial instrument.
Concerned citizens may report unauthorized construction within the Sapangbato protected area to Lazatin’s office through mobile number 0932 888 2145.
They may also submit their reports to the officials of Barangay Sapangbato, to the Angeles LGU through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), or to the DENR.
