...the smart environmentalist

Smart leads in drumming up support for reforestation

 

By MARVYN N. BENANING

April 9, 2011

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) has mounted an exhibit on the Marikina Watershed reforestation at the atrium of SM Marikina in its bid to raise public awareness on preventing a repeat of the disaster spawned by Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009.

Ramon Isberto, chairman PDRF's Marikina Watershed Initiative committee, said the exhibit the first of the 12 mall tours that will highlight not only reforestation efforts for the watershed but also information on watershed management and rainforestation technology.

The first stop of the mall tour is significant since the basement of SM Marikina was swamped by floodwaters from Ondoy's wrath.

It sits on a flood basin upon which floodwaters from Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Pasig and Marikina converged before emptying into Laguna de Bay.

Isberto said the exhibit is part of the broad, multisectoral initiative to rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed under the umbrella of the PDRF.

Partner-organizations for the initiative are Smart Communications Inc., PLDT, PLDTSmart Foundation, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Fostering People’s Education, Empowerment and Enterprise, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Meralco, Manila Water, Earthday Network, Haribon, Nat ional Power Corp., UCPB-CIIF Foundation, League of Corporate Foundations, Education for Life Foundation, True Development Foundation, Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig, Diocese of Antipolo and Kalingap Marikina Watershed.

"While forest rehabilitation may not prevent massive floods from happening, we still believe that it is still a big part of a myriad of solutions that will prevent another Ondoy from occurring," Isberto said.

"Undertaking an initiative with this scale has not been undertaken previously and it cannot be carried out by a single entity if it is to achieve its purpose and goals. Vast amount of money and resources are needed to pursue this cause. A multi-stakeholder collaboration from the civil society, governments, non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs), private sector and academe is required in order to successfully rehabilitate the watershed and promote a self-sustaining community among its residents," Isberto added.