ANGELES CITY – The Angeles City Water District (ACWD) has committed to reforest 30 hectares of the Sapangbato Watershed in a bid to provide a sustainable source of water not only for the city but for the encompassing communities.
ACWD General Manager Guy Lopez and Mr. Renato “Abong” Tayag Jr., president of the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed–Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI) have inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Friday morning at the ACWD office. The MOA was also signed by Archie Lazatin, OIC-CENRO Angeles City, and Mr. Henry Pan, KAAPKA president and caretaker of the Sapangbato Watershed.
Mr. Raffy Angeles, Secretary to Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., said the reforestation is in full swing thru the efforts of the Angeles City LGU and ARAW-ACI. Angeles said the Angeles LGU originally planned to plant 45,000 trees in the Angeles Watershed but already planted more than 69,000 trees surpassing target.
Angeles quoted Mayor Lazatin as saying: “Napakaimportante pong masiguro na kahit ilang daang taon pa ang lumipas, ay mayroon pong mapagkukunan ng water supply ang mga Angelenos.”
Mayor Lazatin furthered: “We have already exceeded our target of planting 45,000 trees in the watershed. And this will expand more through the assistance of our partner organizations.”Mayor Lazatin has expressed his gratitude to the ACWD “for adopting a portion on our watershed.”
“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we will remain true to our promise to preserve and protect the upland forest to regenerate water. We hope to ensure that the future generation of Angelenos will inherit a cleaner, greener, and much better world.”
For his part, Lopez said “water is life.”
“Let us not wait for the wells to dry up. The source of water should be sustainable,” according to Lopez.
ARAW-ACI Executive Director Minerva Zamora said at least 14 sectors have already adopted areas in the Angeles Watershed for reforestation since 2020.