The Maynilad Water Services Inc. marked its 15th anniversary Friday with the launch of Plant for Life 2022, highlighted by the planting of 2,000 tree saplings at the La Mesa watershed complex in Quezon City in keeping with its overarching goal of achieving climate neutrality by the year 2037.
Maynilad president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez said during the roll out, held at the Million Tree Nursery and Eco-Learning Center at the La Mesa watershed, that they are eyeing one million trees planted by end-2022.
The affair also signified the water concessionaire’s support to the Annual Million Trees Challenge of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Others present at the Plant for Life launch were MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas, MWSS chief regulator Lester Patrick Ty, DENR regional director Ignacio Almira Jr, and Million Trees Foundation president Melandrew Velasco.
The group also took part in a handprints ceremony to dramatize their commitment to climate neutrality.
“Since we started this program in 2007, we have already covered around 570 hectares of land with more than 923,000 indigenous trees and mangroves. Planting a tree may seem simple enough. However, its impact can be tremendous as far as watershed protection is concerned. The more denuded forestlands we can recover, the better our chances of improving water security, and providing a sustainable environment for future generations,” Fernandez said in his welcome remarks.
He added that since its launch in 2007, engagement with government agencies and like-minded private organizations allowed for the expansion of the Plant for Life project.
“What started as a reforestation initiative for the Angat, Ipo and La Mesa watersheds eventually expanded to afforestation areas along the coasts of Manila Bay, Laguna Lake, Umiray River, and Malabon. We would like to reiterate our call to protect and clean Laguna lake. Laguna Lake is our raw water source in the south and currently addresses the needs of Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas and Cavite,” added Fernandez.
He credited creative partnerships and volunteerism among 12,000 internal and external volunteers who have been tapped to get all those tree saplings and mangrove propagules planted for the success of the Plant for Life and just recently to the Annual Million Trees Challenge. Today, Maynilad has collectively planted 913,000 trees in a span of 14 years with survival growth rate of more than 80 percent in the last five years and now gearing up of planting its 1,000,000 tree in 2022.
Fernandez also thanked the volunteers who joined Maynilad since the Plant for Life started as he personally cited their collective efforts and sacrifices who took long boat rides and trekked several hours to reach planting sites, sometimes even during rainfall.
According to Fernandez, through the Plant for Life, Maynilad has been able to reduce carbon emissions by around 25,000 tons per year even e stressed that carbon sequestration is essential in reducing the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming and climate change.
Fernandez added that Maynilad is aiming for Climate Neutrality by year 2037 which he described as an ambitious target.
“Carbon sequestration—through our reforestation and watershed rehabilitation initiatives—is going to be a major part of that effort,” he concluded.