ANGELES City and its neighboring areas are at risk of losing water resources by 2025.
This was echoed by environmentalists belonging to the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Incorporated (Araw-ACI), Aguman Talaingat Danum, and other groups during a recent Zoom meeting initiated by the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (MACCII).
The group cited a study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and CTI Engineering International stating that among the 76 cities and municipalities in the country, nine are at high risk and 11 are at risk of losing water resource.
"Most of the cities and municipalities are located at the low-land areas of Bulacan, as well as Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga," the group said.
Araw-ACI head Renato Tayag Jr. stressed the need to rehabilitate the watershed area and the Abacan River for a sustainable water resources for future generation.
The City Government, headed by Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., has prepared a program to rehabilitate the watershed and the river, according to Tayag.
Talaingat Danum head Louie Reyes said his group supports the initiative of Araw-ACI and the Angeles City Government.
He said they are planning to put up a ram pump in Sitio Target to irrigate trees at the watershed area.
Other personalities who joined the online meeting were MACCII president Connie Tayag, Scad head Amee Fabros, Dr. Lina Ramoneda, Architect Rosette Santos Tayag, Dexter Cato, and others.