TREE PLANTING. City Environment and Natural Resources Officer-in-Charge Archimedes Lazatin and City Engineer Donato Dizon participate in a tree planting activity for the rehabilitation of the Angeles City Watershed in Barangay Sapangbato. The project is in partnership with the Abacan River Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc (ARAW-ACI) led by President Renato “Abong” Tayag. Photos by Kim Tayag
ANGELES CITY – The local government here has spearheaded a tree planting activity at the Angeles City Watershed in Barangay Sapangbato on June 19, kicking off Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr.’s campaign for the city’s environment preservation.
Dubbed as “Bayanihan sa Tubig-Kanlungan,” the said activity is a rehabilitation project for the Angeles City Watershed conducted in partnership with the Abacan River Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc (ARAW-ACI) led by President Renato “Abong” Tayag and Vice President Sonny Dobles.
“We will stay committed to our promise of pushing programs for the protection and preservation of our environment,” Lazatin said.
“Sa abot po ng ating makakaya, gagawin natin ang lahat upang maisaayos at maproteksyunan ang ating watershed,” Lazatin added.
In fact, 1,000 seedlings of narra, molave, dau, poay, and assorted fruit-bearing trees were provided by the city government as well as free transportation and potable water for participants.
Two-hundred of these participants are volunteer-employees from city hall offices – City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Engineer’s Office, City College of Angeles, CEO-Environment Management System, Public Employment Services Office, and Angeles City Traffic Development Office. They are joined with CEO Engr. Donato Dizon, PESO Head Maridor Basilio, ACTDO Officer-in-Charge Francis Pangilinan, Barangay Sapangbato Captain Edwin Flores, and Barangay Ninoy Aquino Captain Ricardo Dizon.
Also part also of the project are the city’s partners from the private sector namely Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Clark International Airport Corporation, Converge ICT Solutions, De La Salle Alumni, Pampanga Press Club, Kapanalig Angeles Inc., Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Soliman EC, MRDL Enterprises, ROMAC Group, WIDUS Foundation, Holy Angel University, Angeles City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, ACCERT Pampanga, Hotels and Restaurants Association in Pampanga, Toyota Marquee, Kaunlaran sa Kabundakan Kooperatiba, at ARAW-ACI Youth.
Lazatin said his office is continuously coordinating with the BCDA — through Clark International Airport Corp. Vice President IC Calaguas, also his Chief Adviser and Tactician — to entrust the stewardship of the 560-hectare watershed to the city government.
Lazatin said BCDA officials have agreed to it in principle and promised them that the city will protect the area.
“Para ito sa mga anak natin at sa mga susunod pang henerasyon,” Lazatin said.
CENRO Officer-in-Charge Archimedes Lazatin meanwhile said that the series of tree planting activities will be done until August, citing this as a long-term sustainable advocacy of the city government.
According to him, the monitoring for these planted trees will be regular, being prepared for the seen water shortage in 2030, as experts foresee.
“As what Mayor Lazatin said, we should secure the future generation by investing in long-term solutions,” the CENRO head echoed.
It can be recalled that on March 19, 2021, as part of the celebration of Women’s Month, 113 female City Hall employees and volunteers led by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, Lazatin’s Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel and Gender and Development Officer Mina Cabiles planted 600 trees at the Angeles Watershed.
Further, safety and health protocols against COVID-19 were observed, all the participants in the tree planting activity underwent rapid antigen testing a day before the event, and were all declared negative.
