The Angeles City government has planted 79,715 mixed trees at the Angeles City Watershed in Barangay Sapangbato, a move that is seen to protect the nature reserve and the water table in the aquifers.
The mixed trees consisting of narra, molave, dau, poay, bamboo, Palawan cherry blossom, balibago, bitaug, tinik, dita, white lawan, kamagong, kiling, malaruat, toog, malalangka, malabulak, dungon, and ipil; and assorted fruit-bearing trees consisting of mulberry, guava, anunas, guyabano, jackfruit, atis, lipote, mandgoes, duhat, kamansi, santol, kasoy, avocado, macopa, chesa, American lemon, and rambutan, had been planted by the Angeles City Government workers since the regreening program of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. started in 2020.
As of April 4, 2024, the Angeles City Environment and Natural Resources noted the Angeles City government has already planted 79,715 mixed trees at Sitio Somil, Sitio Target, Sapang Kalawang, and APL Street Groto.
The Angeles City government led by Mayor Lazatin had initally committed to plant 45,000 trees in the watershed but records show the city government had already surpassed its target seedlings to be planted.
Some of the planted trees are now 4 ft to 6 ft in height and would soon be part of the much larger ecosystem that the Angeles City government and the Abacan River Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc (ARAW-ACI) seek to reforest.
The reforestation program at the Angeles City watershed which kicked off in June 2020 was coordinated by Mayor Lazatin and the ARAW-ACI led by President Renato “Abong” Tayag.
Lazatin is still currently lobbying from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to transfer the stewardship of the watershed to the Angeles City government.
He said the Angeles City government “will stay committed to our promise of pushing programs for the protection and preservation of our environment.”
“We will do all we can to protect the watershed,” according to Lazatin.
He said the planting of additional trees is part of his administration’s reforestation program to ensure enough water supply for the future generation.
In addition, Mayor Lazatin is encouraging private sectors and Non-Government Organizations to “adopt” certain areas in the watershed.
Some of the private sectors and NGOs who already adopted certain areas in the watershed are Clark International Airport Corporation, Angeles City Water District, Balibago Waterworks System Inc., Porac Bank, and Rotary Club of Angeles Kuliat.
The AC LGU’s reforestation programs is also providing jobs for 17 Aetas who serve as stewards of the Angeles City watershed.
The fruit-bearing trees also serves as their source of food for the Aeta residents who maintain the upkeep of the watershed.