The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the Million Trees Foundation Inc. (MTFI) have garnered collective pledges from prominent individuals and top corporations to plant 2.7 million more trees, representing the single-biggest commitment to the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC).
The history-making pledges were made in Quezon City during their joint recognition and pledging session for the 2024 AMTC—a public-private sector initiative that aims to boost ongoing efforts of MWSS and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to rehabilitate critical watersheds through reforestation and tree-growing activities as coordinated by MTFI.
“AMTC has been consistent in meeting its target of one million trees planted annually, ensuring this success has necessitated the establishment of the Million Trees Foundation in 2021,” MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco said.
MTFI set its sights on attaining the goal of 10 million trees more by 2030.
The event held at the MWSS Complex on July 1 capped off the Philippine Environment Month that saw a string of awards given to stakeholders and partners of MTFI, with San Miguel Corp. chairman and chief executive Ramon Ang on top billing as “Champion of Nature,” Velasco said.
The “Nature Heroes” awards went to Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Company Inc. and Grundfos Philippines. The Australia-based QBE Group Shared Services Inc. was awarded under the “Eco Guardians” category along with Sta. Clara International Corp.
MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said the event “highlights our pledge to address the critical need to preserve our natural resources for future generations.” This resonates with the mission of AMTC, Cleofas said in her welcome remarks.
Coinciding with the recognition and awarding ceremony, the pledging session generated 2.7 million trees to be planted, the biggest so far in AMTC’s history, as it doubled the 1.36 million trees pledged last year, Velasco said.
The pledges came from 31 partners with Dr. Cesar Quiambao’s commitment of 700,000 trees topping the list, Velasco said.
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture, committed to plant at least 500,000 while DENR 4A pledged to plant 400,000 more, Velasco said.
AMTC has been granting “Champion of Trees” award to partners and stakeholders who have planted 25,000 trees or more for 2023.
Recipients of the award were DENR 4A who leads the list with 288,360 trees planted, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (222,280), Laguna Lake Development Authority (148,182), World Wide Fund for Nature PH (125,200), Manila Water Company, Inc. (118,000), National Power Corporation (86,750), MWSS CO (80,000), Luzon Water Development Corporation (60,000), Professional Regulation Commission (43,926), LGU of General Nakar (42,284), DENR R3 (37,227), ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (36,920), MWSS RO (26,000) and DENR NCR.
Recognized with individual awards called “Kampeon ng TubigKanlungan” were General Nakar Mayor Eliseo Ruzol, DENR NCR executive director Jacqueline Caancan, DENR CALABARZON executive director Nilo Tamoria, Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, Manila Water president and CEO Jose Emmanuel Victor De Dios, Ramon Ang and Sta. Clara International Corp. chairman and managing director Nicandro Linao.
“The awardees have shown their dedication and commitment to boost the advocacy of the AMTC and MTFI through their exemplary leadership in the development and implementation of management initiatives in the restoration, protection and conservation of beneficiary watersheds,” Velasco said.
Special awards were given to ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc – Bantay Kalikasan, Dr. Cesar Quiambao, Rotary Metro East Taytay PP Jose Rommel Mina, PSE-Tourung Kalikasan, Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, and JCI Sen. Victor Jose Luciano, the first Green Army Brigade Commander.
Looking back in 2017, the tree-planting kickoff activity was held at Ipo watershed led by then MWSS Administrator and AMTC founder Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco. Pledges reached 1.5 million trees, from the initial 1,050,000 pledges two weeks earlier. Since then, the pledges were never fewer than one million trees except during the CoViD years.
DA Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano who was guest of honor and keynote speaker said that the AMTC “embodies the spirit of unity and determination that transcends borders and unites people from all of walks of life.” He added that each tree planted “represents not only a tangible contribution to combatting climate change but also a symbol of hope and renewal of community systems worldwide.” Savellano, who is also vice chairman of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, encouraged utilizing bamboo seedlings in tree-planting activities and reforestation since bamboo leaves can also be used as raw materials for livestock feeds.
Fernandez of Maynilad reaffirmed the company’s commitment to AMTC and dedication to ensuring a sustainable and resilient water supply for the communities it serves. “We pledge to reforest a total of 450 hectares of forestlands in the Ipo, Kaliwa and La Mesa watersheds, planting 220,000 seedlings,” he said.
