One MERALCO Foundation Partners with Butuan City WD for One For Trees Program

One MERALCO Foundation, Inc. (OMF), the social development arm and corporate foundation of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), partnered with Butuan City Water District (BCWD) for the implementation of its One For Trees (OFT) program. The partnership was formalized in the OFT Partners’ Gathering and MOA Signing held on September 29, 2022 at the MERALCO Powertech Auditorium in Quezon City. This was followed by a ceremonial planting of trees and learning visit in Green Earth Heritage Foundation OFT site located in San Miguel, Bulacan.

The MOA cements the two entities’ commitment to implement the 80-Hectare reforestation project in the Taguibo River Watershed Forest Reserve (TRWFR) and CADT-135 area dubbed as the “Adopt-A-Forest Program: the One for Trees Project in the Taguibo Watershed.”

In the MOA, OMF donates 4 million pesos while BCWD’s counterpart is 1 million and 51 thousand pesos. This total amount of Php5,051,000.00 will reforest 80 hectares in TRWFR within three years. BCWD will plant 48,000 trees in the Taguibo Watershed to sustain the forest reserve in the watershed enabling quality water supply to the people of Butuan City.
BCWD was chosen by OMF as it was able to meet all the criteria that focused on evidence-based, scientific reforestation management approach, community inclusion and the network to reach other audience through information and education. BCWD is committed to a long-term partnership with One Meralco that will ensure not just planting but nurturing trees for their growth and survival.

"Akala ng marami, this is a mere tree-planting, tree-growing, or tree-nurturing with a very high survival rate target. Yes, we require those. But more importantly, One For Trees is also ken at building the capacities and improving the economic welfare and social well-being of the people who maintain these trees and ensures that the same trees will also benefit their own families and communities," OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao said in his speech during the OFT Partners’ Gathering and MOA Signing.

BCWD and OMF are set to conduct the Community Kick-off and Ceremonial Tree Planting for the said project on Friday, October 7, 2022. The kick-off will start at 9:00A.M. at the Multi-purpose Hall of Mahayahay Elmentary School, Sitio Mahayahay, Bgry. Anticala, Butuan City. The invited guests of the said activity will be OMF Representatives, DENR Representatives, BCWD Representatives, Partner-Peoples Organizations, LGU and Barangay Anticala Officials.

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Last Update: October 07, 2022