Reforestation drive gets record pledges
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the Million Trees Foundation Inc. (MTFI) have received a record number of pledges to plant up to 2.7 million trees in the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC).
At this year’s pledging session, MWSS and MTFI recognized San Miguel Corp. chair Ramon Ang as a “Champion of Nature” for his part in reforesting the country’s critical watersheds.
“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,” said MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco.
Velasco said they also conferred “Nature Heroes” awards to Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc. and Grundfos Philippines.
The Australia-based QBE Group Shared Services Inc. was awarded under the “Eco Guardians” category along with Sta. Clara International Corp.
MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said the event “highlights our pledge to address the critical need to preserve our natural resources for future generations.”
The collective pledges of 2.7 million trees to be planted was the biggest so far in AMTC’s history. Last year, pledges amounted to 1.36 million trees.
The pledges came from 31 partners with Dr. Cesar Quiambao’s commitment of 700,000 trees topping the list, Velasco said.
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture, committed to plant at least 500,000 while Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 4A pledged to plant 400,000 more, he added.
Velasco said AMTC also granted “Champion of Trees” awards to partners and stakeholders who have planted 25,000 trees or more for 2023.
Recipients of the award were: DENR 4A who leads the list with 288,360 trees planted, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (222,280), Laguna Lake Development Authority (148,182), World Wide Fund for Nature PH (125,200), Manila Water Company Inc. (118,000), National Power Corp. (86,750), MWSS (80,000), Luzon Water Development Corp. (60,000), Professional Regulation Commission (43,926), local government of General Nakar (42,284), DENR R3 (37,227), ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (36,920), MWSS RO (26,000) and DENR NCR.
Recognized with individual awards called “Kampeon ng TubigKanlungan” were General Nakar Mayor Eliseo Ruzol, DENR NCR executive director Jacqueline Caancan, DENR Calabarzon executive director Nilo Tamoria, Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, Manila Water president and CEO Jose Emmanuel Victor De Dios and Sta. Clara International Corp. chair and managing director Nicandro Linao.
