Calbayog Water Co., Inc. (CBCI) one of the operating units of Manila Water in the Visayas region boosts the Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape with the planting of hundreds of tree seedlings on more than a hectare of land adjacent to the protected area.
In partnership with Calbayog City Water District (CCWD) and in coordination with the City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the CBCI led the planting of 625 cacao and toog trees on 1.5 hectares of land in Barangay Manuel Barral Sr., Calbayog City.
CBCI is a 25-year joint venture between CCWD and Manila Water Philippine Ventures & Tubig Pilipinas Group, Inc.
Calbayog Water said that the activity was held as part of the company’s commitment and celebration of the Arbor Day and the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month in June. Earlier, the company also held a similar tree planting activity in Barangay Roxas, Calbayog City.
“As part of the mandate of the joint venture company, we conduct activities that should contribute positively to the community and consider the environmental and social impacts in the company’s decision making,” Calbayog Water added.
The company also said that cacao and toog trees are essential crops as they provide food security, income, employment and resources for poverty reduction.
“The planting of cacao and toog trees also provides added benefits to the community. Cacao trees provide shade, improve biodiversity, inhibit growth of weeds thus reducing the need to use chemical herbicides, and provide livelihood to the community and smallholder farmers in Calbayog,” the company said in a statement. Toog trees act as air purifier, natural coolant, and emission combater.
The Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape is a legislated protected area located in Calbayog City with an area of 5,067.93 hectares through RA 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) of 1992, as amended by RA 11038, the Expanded NIPAS of 2018.
The protected area extends along the valley of the Hayiban River, which serves as the primary source of water for Calbayog. It consists of old growth trees and a system of rivers, waterfalls, and streams capable of generating 2,279 liters per day.
“This protected landscape is one of the primary sources of water and energy of the city,” Calbayog Water said, citing that Pan-as Hayiban is one of the 39 watersheds on the main island of Samar,” Calbayog Water added.#(MWC Corporate Communications)
