THE LOCAL government unit of Angeles City will plant 45,000 seedlings and install four solar water pumps in its watershed located in Barangay Sapangbato.
Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin, Jr. said this is part of the city’s efforts to reforest the 560-hectare watershed.
In Lazatin’s letter to Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon, he also asked the agency to allow the city government to install four shallow tube well solar pumps at the soonest possible time in the watershed.
The pumps are needed for the care of the 45,000 seedlings to be planted this year in partnership with Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI) led by businessman and environmentalist Renato “Abong” Tayag; and Clark International Airport Corporation led by General Aaron Aquino.
The watershed is owned by BCDA.
Lazatin and the Angeles City council asked the agency to entrust its management to the City Government.
BCDA has agreed in principle.
Lazatin tapped his chief adviser and Clark International Airport Corp. Vice President IC Calaguas, to oversee the reforestation and management of the watershed.
The city government started its massive reforestation efforts last year to increase water reserves which will benefit the City and the Metro Clark area.
Moreover, Lazatin plans to establish a nursery to ensure enough supplies of seedlings in reforesting the 560-hectare land.
Staff from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the city’s partner ARAW-ACI have been assigned at the Angeles City Watershed to look after and monitor the seedlings planted during the series of tree planting activities conducted.
In addition, Lazatin is encouraging the private sector and non-government organizations to "adopt" certain areas in the watershed.
"Having water is a must. These efforts being done at the present time will help conserve water for the use of future generations. Isa lang naman po ang goal natin, ang maseguro ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, habang pinangangalagaan ang kalikasan," Lazatin furthered.
Last June 19, 2021 the city government spearheaded a planting activity where 1,000 seedlings of narra, molave, dau, poay, and assorted fruit-bearing trees were planted. The same was conducted during the Women's Month celebration, where 600 trees were planted on March 19, 2021. (PR)