West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) recently celebrated a milestone in its “Plant for Life†watershed reforestation program with the planting of its one-millionth tree at La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City. Present to witness the planting of this “Mega Tree†were (from left) Maynilad Head of Quality, Sustainability and Resiliency Division Atty. Roel S. Espiritu, Department of Environment and National Resources Assistant Regional Director for Technical Engr. Ignacio Almira, Jr., Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System Administrator Engr. Leonor Cleofas, and Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez.
Maynilad’s “Plant for Life†program aims to rehabilitate and sustain the critical watersheds that replenish raw water supplies for Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Since the program’s launch in 2007, the company has planted native trees like narra, cupang, acacia, alibangbang, apitong, and mangroves over a land area of around 755.3 hectares in Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa, as well as in the Manila Bay and Laguna Lake coastlines of Cavite and Muntinlupa. This program has also enabled Maynilad to reduce its carbon emissions by around 25,000 tons per year.