As part of its efforts to help reforest the Ipo Dam Watershed and prevent calamities such as land erosion and flooding, West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) recently started its “Plant for Life” tree-planting activities for 2012.
From 2007 to 2011, Maynilad has planted 164,000 saplings in the Ipo Dam Watershed with another 50,000 saplings pledged for 2012. For July alone, Maynilad planted 6,600 saplings in celebration of the 66th birthday of its chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan.
“Planting trees on denuded lands is one of the best actions we can take against flooding. We not only help to protect the watershed area that supplies our raw water needs, we also provide a long-term solution to the cycle of flooding during the rainy season,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas.
Joining Maynilad in the concerted effort to reforest the watershed is the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, Philippine Waterworks Association, Water Environment Association of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and representatives from PLDT-Smart, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Municipality of Norzagaray, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Philippine Association of Water Districts, and the Philippines Water Partnership.
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.
PHOTO CAPTION: Maynilad President and CEO Ricky Vargas places a hand print on the commitment board to show his support to help save the Ipo Dam Watershed.
