Maynilad Water Services Inc. has inched closer to its goal of planting its one-millionth tree this year after it teamed up with the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) for the first time to plant various seedlings at Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
Ninety-three officials and employees of Maynilad and OPS planted 400 narra, dungon, malaruhat, and palosapis seedlings in an approximate area of one hectare within the watershed site on Friday, Oct. 28.
Dubbed “Plant for Life,” the tree-planting activity was led by Maynilad’s corporate communications department head Jennifer Rufo; quality, sustainability, and resiliency division head Atty. Roel S. Espiritu; and sustainability department head John Emmanuel Martinez.
They were joined by OPS Undersecretary for Special Concerns Marlon B. Purificacion, Directors for Special Concerns lawyer Ansherina Paula Francisco and Benjamin R. Rosario, and General Services Division Head lawyer Tara C. Rama.
Lawyer Claudine B. Orocio-Isorena, deputy administrator for administration and legal affairs of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office, was also present at the event.
“The partnership between Maynilad and the OPS is very significant because we are aiming to plant our one-millionth tree this year. We won’t be able to reach this milestone without the help of volunteers like you,” Maynilad’s Rufo said, addressing OPS officials and employees during the tree-planting activity.
“Our initiative today will greatly contribute to our environmental efforts as we continue to tap the help of various organizations from the public and private sectors,” she added.
Meanwhile, Purificacion said the project highlighted the OPS’ commitment to help President Ferdinand Marcos fulfill his goal of protecting the environment and mitigating the impact of climate change.
Quoting the President, he stressed the need to strengthen public-private partnerships to advance the green agenda.
“At the Office of the Press Secretary, we are guided by President Marcos’ directive to address climate change and at the same time, look for solutions for our problems on energy and water supply,” the OPS official said.
Maynilad has planted about 975,000 indigenous trees and mangroves across some 704 hectares of land nationwide since the inception of its “Plant for Life” program in 2007.
The multi-site reforestation initiative enabled the company to reduce its carbon emissions by around 25,000 tons annually.
