Some 5,000 mangrove propagules were recently planted at the Isla Bonita Resort in Rosario, Cavite, as part of the “Plant for Life Program” of West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad).
Joining Maynilad in the effort were representatives from Bantay Dagat–Rosario, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)–Cavite, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police. About 100 people participated in the activity.
“The Plant for Life program is part of our effort to safeguard water resources, in support of the government’s National Greening Program. This year, we’ve committed to planting 60,000 saplings at the Ipo watershed alone,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.
The National Greening Program (NGP) or Executive Order 26, issued in October 2011, involves the planting of forest trees along identified sites within National Parks/protected areas, stream banks, mangrove areas, urban parks, military reservations, watershed areas, classified forest/timberland, open spaces, parks, roadsides, school grounds, and mined-out areas in the province.
The activity in Rosario, Cavite—also called “Ibalik ang Bakawan/ Save Manila Bay”—is the third leg of Maynilad’s ongoing initiative to plant mangrove propagules in the Manila Bay coastal areas of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Cavite City, Bacoor City, and the municipalities of Rosario and Noveleta in Cavite Province.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is a concessionaire of the MWSS for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres & Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon, all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.
IN PHOTO: Maynilad Head of Corporate Quality, Environment, Safety and Health Engr. Francisco Arellano (right) after signing a Memorandum of Agreement on the “Plant for Life” activity in Rosario, Cavite, with municipal mayor Jose Ricafrente Jr. and DENR–Cavite, represented in this photo by Judy Fabro.