MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. has vowed to reforest 450 hectares of forestlands in the watersheds of Ipo Dam in Bulacan, Kaliwa Dam in Rizal and Quezon and La Mesa Dam in Quezon City as part of its commitment under the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC).
Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the water concessionaire targets to plant at least 220,000 seedlings as part of the company’s commitment to a sustainable and resilient water supply for the communities it serves.
“We pledge to reforest a total of 450 hectares of forestlands in the Ipo, Kaliwa and La Mesa watersheds, and plant 220,000 seedlings,” Fernandez said.
The AMTC, which is public-private sector initiative, aims to boost ongoing efforts of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to rehabilitate critical watersheds through reforestation and tree-growing activities.
“AMTC has been consistent in meeting its target of one million trees planted annually, ensuring this success has necessitated the establishment of the Million Trees Foundation in 2021,” Million Trees Foundation Inc. (MTFI) president and executive director Melandrew Velasco said.
MTFI has set its sights on attaining the goal of 10 million more trees in 2030.
For her part, MWSS Administrator Leonor Cleofas underscored the need to preserve the natural resources for future generations.
For 2024, 31 partners of AMTC vowed to plant 2.7 million trees, twice the 1.36 million trees pledged in 2023.
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture, committed to plant at least 500,000 while DENR 4A pledged to plant 400,000 more.
The AMTC has been granting “Champion of Trees” award to partners and stakeholders who have planted 25,000 trees or more for 2023.