ANGELES CITY —Fiber broadband operator Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) adopting two hectares in the watershed of Angeles City to help ensure enough water in the future.
Converge signed the MOA with the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI), the implementer of the Angeles Watershed Reforestation Program (AWRP) with the Angeles City local government and Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr.
The Kapatirang Aetas ng Angeles-Porac para sa Kalikasan at Agrikultura (KAAPKA) also signed the MOA.
“Our start-up years was in Angeles City. It remains our home,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge founder and chief executive officer in an online program.
At least 100 employees planted the first 500 hardwood and fruit trees in the company’s 2-hectare plot in Barangay Sapang Bato at the periphery of the Clark Freeport last Friday.
The target is to plant 2,000 seedlings, a copy of the MOA showed.
It is within the 560 hectares set aside by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority for reforestation.
Converge president Maria Grace Uy said the adoption of a portion of the watershed signifies the company’s commitment to heal the environment.
“We thank Converge for taking this journey with us. They will surely serve as an inspiration to other companies that are willing to share their resources for reforestation and for ensuring the sustainability of our water supply in the Metro Clark area,” ARAW-ACI president Renato “Abong” Tayag said.
ARAW-ACI and the Angeles LGU, through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, reported planting about 15,000 seedlings of forest trees, fruit-bearing trees and bamboos at the Angeles watershed from 2019 to present. There are 40,000 seedlings ready at the site that are scheduled for planting until December 2021.
