Corporate reforestation of Ipo Dam eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) is drawing up a program to encourage the adoption by various corporations of thousands of hectares of denuded portions of Ipo Dam.

“Long-term, we are thinking of a ‘Corporate Forestry Watershed Legacy Program’ geared toward integrated watershed management plan to help reforest, maintain favorable environmental conditions and to improve the quality and amount of potable water supply to our constituents,” MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said.?

According to Velasco, the three MWSS concessionaires – Maynilad, Manila Water and Bulacan Bulk Water – can initially adopt 50,000 hectares each at Ipo as part of the Corporate Forestry Watershed Legacy Program and to encourage their mother companies such as the MVP Group of Companies, Ayala and San Miguel Corp. to be part of the “Annual Million Tree Challenge” (AMTC) as well as proper management, protection and nurturing of trees in critical watersheds.?

The Annual Million Tree Challenge is a reforestation project of the MWSS, which aims to plant one million trees per year for five years. It mainly focuses on six watersheds – Umiray, Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, Marikina and Laguna de Bay. On its maiden year in 2017, the AMTC project surpassed its target at 1,258,000 trees planted and received 1,550,000 committed trees for planting this 2018.?

Velasco also cited that last year, the MWSS signed a memorandum of agreement with the local government unit of General Nakar, Quezon. The MOA aims to bolster the existing watershed management initiative at the General Nakar watersheds toward long-term sustainability for existing and future projects such as the Sumag Diversion project, rehabilitation of Umiray-Angat Transbasin Tunnel project and in preparation for the 600 MLD Kaliwa Dam project.?

With the support of multi-partite stakeholders, the enhanced sustainable watershed management program will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of deforestation and forest degradation, increase carbon sink capacity, and improve water flow regulation.?

Trees in the watersheds absorb rainwater, which in turn is channeled to streams, rivers and eventually dams where fresh water is sourced. Thus, the need to protect trees in the watersheds will help lessen turbidity in the quality of water in dams caused by numerous landslides.

Velasco said there is a need for a sustainable integrated watershed management program in the wake of the increase in the turbidity level at Ipo Dam whose raw water supplies its service areas.?

“Recognizing the importance of watersheds in supporting the water supply of Metro Manila and adjoining provinces, MWSS needs to come up with an integrated approach towards sustainable management and protection of the watersheds,” he added.?

The increase in turbidity level triggered intermittent water supply recently experienced in Metro Manila and several barangays in Bulacan.?

Ipo Dam is still beset by illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming and charcoal making – the main causes of deforestation as identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2004.