Page 5 - BULOS Issue 16

The Naga Sarong Banggi Council of Elders and Villa Sorabella Homeowners Association’s participation in the FOM project is a valuable addition to the effort of protecting our watersheds.
On May 13, 2021, a Tree Planting activity was held of environmentally conscious groups.
at Villa Sorabella, Barangay Concepcion Grande, Naga With this, the SBOI together with the VSHA SARONG BANGGI
City, in connection with the Forest-in-our-Midst (FOM) supported FOM program through the involvement of ORGANIZATION INC.
project. The event was initiated by the Sarong Banggi homeowners in the promotion of environmental and
Organization Inc. (SBOI), represented by Farah Llagas economic programs for the benefit of the people and JOINS THE FOM PROJECT
and participated in by the Local Government Unit of the community they live in. Further, SBOI signified to WITH MNWD AND LGU NAGA
Naga (LGU-Naga), through the City Environment and take part in the efforts to manage, rehabilitate, and
Natural Resources Office (ENRO) represented by Engr. protect watersheds within the Naga River Watershed,
Dante Cea, Villa Sorabella Homeowners Association particularly the Villa Sorabella Open Public Space,
(VSHA) and the Metropolitan Naga Water District which will be named as Sorabella SB FOM Park.
(MNWD) through OIC Assistant General Manager for As Philippine Environment Month is celebrated
Operations and Technical Services, Vicente Aniceto in June, the SBOI and VSHA conducted another tree
Rubio. The said activity was also the FOM project planting activity with MNWD and LGU-Naga on June
turnover to the VSHA with the SBOI who expressed 12, 2021. The said activity provided an additional
their support to the said program. number of seedlings to the previous 1000 planted
FOM is an initiative of the LGU-Naga in partnership ones. The community of Villa Sorabella can now
with MNWD, driven by its commitment to protect expect numerous trees to grow in the next few years.
and manage the Naga River watershed. The purpose The success of ensuring environmental integrity
of this program is to safeguard the environmental and sustainable community development can only be
integrity and economic prosperity within the city effectively achieved through collaboration and active
of Naga; which is why there is a need to involve key participation. The MNWD and all others involved in
sectors of society to help in the realization of its this FOM program, highly value the principle of unity
goals and promote inter-organizational linkages and camaraderie in the process of protecting our city’s A total of 1,000 seedlings of Narra, Marumanga, and
Buhokan were planted at the Villa Sorabella Open Public
within different institutions, agencies and civic watersheds and improving the quality of life for the Space, which will soon grow to provide a greener and
organizations, therefore creating a large network present and future generations. healthier environment.
ADNU H/S BATCH ’70, BOB MARLIN FUND

MNWD ADOPT-A-NURSERY PROJECT
Watersheds are essential in improving the quality of water that the public consumes. Thus, it is of greater
importance that the people who are enjoying the benefits of these watersheds are working on preserving and
improving their condition. The Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD), being highly committed to protecting
the Mt. Isarog Natural Park (MINP) and the Naga River Watershed, initiated the “Adopt-a-Nursery” Project in
collaboration with various stakeholders.
This program which started in the 1990s, resulted in the restoration of the vegetative cover of almost 1,000
hectares in the Anayan-Rumangrap and Kalinisan-Nabuntulan watersheds, further restoring the environmental
integrity of said areas in MINP which is vital to rain formation and the regulation of MNWD’s spring sources.
Today, in support of the Forest in Our Midst (FOM) of the City Government of Naga and for the sustainability
of our environmental programs, the program has expanded with the inclusion of the Naga River Watershed
through the memorandum of agreement signed in 2019.
Moreover, on January 12, 2021, the MNWD held a Turnover Ceremony of the Adopt-a-Nursery Project with
the Ateneo De Naga University (ADNU) High School Batch ’70 and Bob Marlin Restaurant and Grill. They are the
District’s new partners in fulfilling its mission of attaining an ideal vegetative cover for watersheds and increase
its water holding capacity.
Bob Marlin was represented by former MNWD Chairman, Jorge T. Palma, who contributed an amount of
P15,000.00, which would constitute a number of 2,000 seedlings. ADNU H/S Batch ’70 on the other hand,
donated P34,380.00 to fund the propagation activities, good for 4,000 seedlings. As ADNU Alumnus Ismael
“Bong” Pangilinan said in his speech, the Adopt-a-Nursery Project is an avenue for them to give back to the
community and the environment.

Alumnus Gene M. Jaucian hands over the funds for Former MNWD Chairman, Jorge T. Palma of Bob Marlin
the seedling propagation activities to MNWD General Restaurant, likewise donated for the project as received
Manager Virgilio B. Luansing I during the Turnover by GM Luansing I.
Ceremony.
METROPOLITAN NAGA WATER DISTRICT JANUARY - JUNE 2021 5