Million Trees Foundation, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. have expressed their support on the designation of Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a statement, the MTFI, represented by its chair emeritus Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco and president and executive director Melandrew T. Velasco, said the nomination of Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga to head the government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources is a laudable step by the new administration.
For his part, Maynilad president Ramoncito S. Fernandez said “we welcome the appointment of Secretary Yulo and she is an ally, especially in our common advocacy of reducing carbon emissions. We support her advocacies on climate change and disaster resilience.”
He made the statement of support at the launching of Maynilad’s Road to 1 Million Trees planted in 15 years as part of its 15th-year celebration as water concessionaire of the West Zone and for the Annual Million Trees Challenge of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
Fernandez said that Maynilad is aiming for Climate Neutrality by 2037 which he described as an ambitious target.
“Carbon sequestration—through our reforestation and watershed rehabilitation initiatives—is going to be a major part of that effort and that’s where Environment Secretary Yulo will lead us to,” he added.
Prior to her nomination, Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga served as chair of the International Advisory Board of the Manila Observatory. She also served as executive director of the Mania Observatory for nine years.
She is a former technical adviser of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and former president of the National Resilience Council.
The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation is the country’s major private sector coordinator for disaster risk reduction and management.
On the other hand, the National Resilience Council (NRC) is a science and technology-based public-private partnership that supports government, communities, the academe, and the private sector in advancing the intersecting goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)’s Making Cities Resilient Campaign.
“Her expertise notably her policy pronouncements on climate will surely fast-track the attainment of DENR’s vision of a clean and healthy environment as well as sustainability of our natural resources,” MTFI Chairman Velasco said. “We at MTFI believe that development can be attained without sacrificing our environment,” he added.
Velasco who initiated the Annual Million Tree Challenge (AMTC) during his tenure as Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) continues to advocate reforestation not only to increase forest cover but to protect the watersheds that supply potable water through the MTFI.
DENR is an active partner of MTFI in its programs. Aside from providing planting materials and assisting in the validation of planted seedlings, it is also involved in tree-planting activities.
During the 2022 The Road to 10 Million More Trees By 2030 pledging session recently, DENR and its provincial and city offices committed to plant close to 500,000 saplings in beneficiary watersheds namely Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, Upper Marikina, Umiray, Laguna Lake, Manila Bay. The government agency also provides technical assistance to ensure habitat suitability of trees as trees survive and thrive in specific natural habitat range.
“We at MTFI are grateful for DENR’s support to our programs,” Executive Director Mel Velasco said. MTFI’s program of reforestation in critical watersheds is essential in mitigating the effects of climate change.
“Her nomination as DENR Secretary is very timely as we try to solve the myriad problems associated with changing climate and global warming,” he added. Being an archipelago, the country is more vulnerable to the dangers of global warming. It is therefore necessary to be prepared and take preventive measures before a calamity strikes.
Secretary-designate Yulo-Loyzaga has worked to advance scientific research in climate and disaster resilience through research collaboration and public-private partnerships. She is a member of the Senior Advisory Board of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College. Her appointment as DENR Secretary makes her the third female secretary in the history of the agency.