ANGELES CITY – The Angeles City Water District is the latest corporate entity to join the concerted drive to reforest the Angeles Watershed in Barangay Sapangbato here, with even greater motivation closer to its core value — to ensure a sustainable source of water not only for the city but also for its contiguous communities.
ACWD general manager Guy Lopez and Renato “Abong” Tayag Jr., president of the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed–Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI) signed a memorandum of agreement over the weekend whereby the ACWD committed to reforest 30 hectares in the watershed. The other signatories to the MOA were Archie Lazatin, OIC-CENRO Angeles City, and Henry Pan, KAAPKA president and caretaker of the Sapangbato Watershed.
Raffy Angeles, secretary to Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., noted that the reforestation is in full swing through the efforts of the ARAW-ACI, and the city government which originally planned to plant 45,000 trees but ended up surpassing that target with more than 69,000 trees planted.
“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,” Angeles quoted Mayor Lazatin as saying and expressing his gratitude to the ACWD “for adopting a portion in our watershed.”
“Napakaimportante pong masiguro na kahit ilang daang taon pa ang lumipas, ay mayroon pong mapagkukunan ng water supply ang mga Angelenos,” Angeles further quoted the mayor as saying. “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,” he enthused.
ARAW-ACI Executive Director Minerva Zamora said at least 14 sectors have already adopted areas in the watershed for reforestation since 2020. Pampanga News Team
