Two weeks after Balibago Waterworks signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI) and Kapatirang Aetas ng Angeles-Porac para sa Kalikasan at Agrikultura (KAAPKA), the company planted the first 1,000 seedlings last October 22, 2022, on the first of the ten hectares of Angeles Watershed it adopted at Sitio Balaru, Brgy. Sapangbato, Angeles City.
More than 70 employees of Balibago Waterworks volunteered for the event. Members and officers of partner organizations ARAW-ACI and KAAPKA were also present. Employees of Hilton Clark Resort and teachers and students of Holy Family Academy also joined the advocacy.
To ensure diversity, different varieties of seedlings such as forest trees (narra and molave), bamboo, and assorted fruit-bearing trees were planted.
During the brief opening program, Balibago Waterworks President, Criselle Alejandro, acknowledged and thanked everyone for taking an active role in preserving the environment. She also emphasized the importance of embracing the concept of sustainable development saying “sustainable development is the ability of the present generation to meet its needs while at the same time allowing the future generations to meet its needs.”
This initiative is under the “Adopt-A-Watershed Reforestation Program” of ARAW-ACI and is dubbed "Project 10,000" as Balibago Waterworks targets to plant and maintain at least 10,000 trees on the ten hectares of Angeles City Watershed within the next five years.
The project has two components: the rehabilitation of the Angeles Watershed and the livelihood program for KAAPKA members as they will get to sell the fruits that can be harvested from the trees.
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