West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has launched its “Plant for Life” program, aiming to plant 180,000 native trees in the Ipo and other watersheds.
The initiative is part of Maynilad’s broader commitment to water security, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. The program’s kickoff included a large-scale tree-planting event at the Ipo Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan, which supplies the Angat-Ipo water system, Metro Manila’s primary source of raw water.
Volunteers from the private sector, civil society, media and local communities participated, alongside representatives from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and companies from the MVP Group.
Roel Espiritu, Maynilad’s chief sustainability officer, cited the importance of the program.
“Watershed reforestation is essential to protecting our water supply,” Espiritu said. “Trees help improve water infiltration, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, and ultimately support supply reliability for our 10.5 million customers. The program also restores biodiversity and provides livelihoods for nearby communities,” he said.
Since its inception in 2007, the “Plant for Life” program has planted over 1.45 million trees across nearly 2,000 hectares. The project has expanded from the Ipo and La Mesa watersheds to the Kaliwa watershed, mangrove belts along Manila Bay, and areas around Laguna Lake.
To ensure a high survival rate for the trees, Maynilad works with members of the Dumagat community and other local groups who serve as forest stewards.
These stewards manage nursery operations, monitor the trees, handle replanting, and protect the forest through a structured three-year care program. This collaborative effort has achieved an 80% survival rate while also providing socioeconomic benefits to the partner communities.
The reforested areas are estimated to absorb around 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, contributing to Maynilad’s wider sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives.
