“The earth is what we all have in common.”
As Wendell Berry aptly puts it, “The earth is what we all have in common.” Everyone partakes of its bounty. However, nature is such that what we do to it is what it shall do to us in return. We therefore need to take care of it so it will protect us and the future generations. Climate change, water shortage and food scarcity are reflections of our neglect and seeming indifference towards our obligation to Mother Earth. Since we all benefit from it, everyone is duty bound to protect it. Individually or collectively, our efforts will matter and will bring change.
Cagayan de Oro Water District, with its mandate to provide clean and safe water to all, realizes that one way of ensuring sustainability of our water supply is through reforestation and rehabilitation of our forests. COWD has, and will remain, commited to do what it can, whether by itself or through collaboration with other agencies, to do its share in protecting our forests and watersheds.
Among COWD’s environment protection initiatives are the following:
• Adopt-A-Mountain Project – DENR-10 allocated 2.17 hectares for a Tree Planting Program within the open spaces of the Mahuganao Watershed Forest Reserve. This program started in 2003 and was completed in 2009. The total project cost is P203,324.75. This project has planted bamboo, rattan and fruit-bearing trees and has maintained and protected the area from destruction of stray animals and other elements.
• Green Philippines Program – Additionally, COWD entered into an agreement with DENR-10, signed on April 2008, to adopt, develop and maintain another 10.25-hectare area located adjacent to its existing 2.17 hectares at the Mahuganao Watershed, Malasag Heights, Barangay Cugman. COWD planted and maintained Narra and Lawaan trees on this area.
• National Greening Program – Still in partnership with the DENR-10, and this time also with the Phoenix Philippines Foundation, Inc., an additional area has been planted with Lawaan trees and this portion of the project had a total contract cost of P287,022.22. NGP started in 2014 and continued until its completion in 2017.
• Bamboo propagation at Dansolihon – COWD signed a memorandum of understanding with the City Government (through Clenro) and the Butay-Eba-Macopa Higaonon Farmers Association and Barangay Council of Dansolihon to adopt a strip of 10 kms suitable for Bamboo plantation and provide financial assistance to the Buemahifa for the establishment, maintenance and protection of the planted bamboo seedlings along Suloon Creek of Sitio Eba and Macopa, Barangay Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City. 2,000 bamboo plants have now been planted in the area.
• Forest rehabilitation at Mt. Kalatungan, Talagak, Bukidnon – In a bid to fight flooding in the city aggravated by lack of adequate vegetation in the headwaters, vast expanse of grasslands, barren slopes, unsustainable cultivation in the upstream sections of Cagayan de Oro River basin and to bring the faltering critical ecosystems back to health, COWD, in cooperation with The Xavier Science Foundation and in coordination with DENR-10, DILG and CDO Riverbasin Management Council, shall be providing for ecosystem services to the Miarayon Lapok Lirongan Tinaytayan Tribal Association. COWD allocated P1 million for this project which covers 10 hectares for a period of 5 years as part of the implementation of MILALITTRA PES Program which calls for 1,648 hectares of grasslands and agricultural lands to be devoted for reforestation and agroforestry.
COWD’s environmental projects ensure that our children can enjoy nature in the years ahead. (pr)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
