ANGELES CITY – The Balibago Waterworks System Inc. (BWSI) vowed to plant 10,000 trees at the Angeles City Watershed in Barangay Sapangbato here, supporting the project of the Angeles City government and environmental group Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI).
BWSI President Criselle Alejandro said they will plant 2,000 trees per year for five years at the 10,000 hectares of land at the watershed. It will start in October this year.
“We have been looking for a partner for this kind of project. We are glad we found the ARAW-ACI,” said Alejandro during the recent signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ARAW-ACI, Angeles City and Kapatirang Aetas ng Angeles-Porac para sa Kalikasan at Agrikiltura
(KAAPKA).
“We already feel the dwindling of water supply. This project is timely,” she added. Her firm serves 12 barangays in the city.
The BWSI joined other private firms in adopting a watershed.
Renato “Abong” Tayag, president of ARAW-ACI, said their mission is to plant trees at some 520 hectares of land at the watershed to prevent the shortage of water supply in the near future based on a study.
“So far, we have planted trees at 120 hectares with the help of the Angeles City and private firms,” he added.
In his speech, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin said the city government committed to plant 45,000 trees. He added that they surpassed the mark, planting 69,000 trees since the project started.
“We want to plant more,” he added.
Sonny Dobles, vice president of ARAW-ACI, said “what’s good about Lazatin is that he supports the project all the way.”
“The first step is to plant. The second step is to take care of trees by regularly watering them. Mayor Pogi provided salaries for the Aetas who are in charge of taking care of the plants and trees,” he added.
Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting also expressed support to the project.
