MANILA, Philippines – To prevent the destruction of another typhoon “Ondoy,” Antipolo City Mayor Nilo Leyble has teamed up with the private sector to rehabilitate the 26,000-hectare Marikina Watershed.
Leyble signed a memorandum of cooperation with Manny Pangilinan, chairman and chief executive officer of Metro Pacific Corp. and chairman of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), to protect the environment and prevent another Ondoy.
Joining Leyble and Pangilinan in the endeavor were representatives of the private sector, non-government organizations, various foundations, and national agencies.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to take our social responsibility to protect the interest (of the people) and of course the environment as far as Antipolo City is concerned and all the other low-lying areas within the vicinity of our city. As primordial beneficiary of this great undertaking we give our assurance to all that the members of this group (would) deliver our part,” Leyble said.
The Marikina Watershed is located at the boundaries of the cities of Antipolo and Marikina and the Rizal towns of Tanay, San Mateo, Baras, and Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), which were among those badly hit by Ondoy last September.
Leyble said planting and sustaining of trees in the watershed is one of their major steps toward environment protection.
“I just want to thank everybody for joining this undertaking. This is a very important project, and is a long-term effort by itself. And it is only one of the many components that will mitigate flooding. A public–private relationship and cooperation is a must for the success of this undertaking,” said Pangilinan.
The PDRF under Pangilinan initiated the putting up of nurseries in Barangays Calawis and San Jose in Antipolo City to jumpstart the project.