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SEC. ACOSTA LEADS LLDA, LOCAL
COMMUNITIES IN SAVING THE LAGUNA
DE BAY WATERSHED
Martin Antonio
| October 14, 2011
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“Daang Matuwid sa Luntiang Paraan”
Secretary Neric Acosta, Presidential
Adviser for Environmental Protection and
Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)
General Manager, led hundreds of LLDA
employees and members of the local
community in two separate tree-planting
activities aimed to rehabilitate the
watershed of the Laguna de Bay Region
and in support of the President’s
National Greening Program. The first one
was held last October 7, 2011 at Tayak
Hill, Brgy. Tala, Rizal, Laguna and the
second one was held on October 12, 2011,
in Brgy. Binayoyo, Antipolo City.
In his speech, the Secretary reiterated
the importance of the watershed, a
natural water reservoir, in the
protection and preservation of the
Laguna Lake, preventing floods, and
securing food for future generations.
A
denuded watershed would mean siltation
in the Laguna Lake, which could lead to
algae bloom and fish kills. Siltation
occurs when there are high levels of
silt or clay in a body of water due to
surface run-off or soil erosion and
flooding because of the lack of trees to
hold the rain water in the ground. The
site where the second tree-planting
activity was held is part of the
Marikina Watershed which was the major
source of floodwaters during typhoon Ondoy.
The Secretary also stressed the
importance of the watershed to food
security, saying, “If the watershed
becomes denuded, there will be no water
reservoir, and no water. And if there’s
no water, there will be no food.”
Secretary Acosta stressed that it is
therefore imperative that we rejuvenate
the watershed by increasing its
water-holding capacity if we want a
cleaner lake, food security for our
children, and to avoid another Ondoy.
“Planting trees is the least that we
can do if we want to leave behind a
legacy. Trees will live far beyond our
lifetime and will be there for the next
generations to come”, Sec. Acosta added.
LLDA partners with the local government
of the Municipality of Rizal, Laguna
headed by Mayor Antonino Aurelio for the
planting and rearing of trees at the
Laguna site. For the Antipolo site, the
activity was conducted in partnership
with Manila Water Co. and FBE Cube Phils.
These tree-planting activities are part
of the many programs of the LLDA as it
celebrates its 42nd anniversary this
month.
