Tree planting plays a very important role in Watershed protection and maintenance. Trees improve water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient loading into tributaries of major rivers and prevent flash flooding during heavy rains by controlling the volume of water runoff to residential areas downstream.
Trees provide their greatest benefit during light rains by increasing soil permeability which facilitates groundwater recharge, and finally, increase tree cover promotes the movement of water into the water table.
Subicwater associates have been regularly joining tree-planting activities in Olongapo and SBMA since before its privatization in 1997. Most of the accounts relayed by those who were still young during those days and can climb steep hills like Balite Spring and Gordon Heights were at the least adventurous and sometimes humorous experiences. But they all say the same thing: they want to go back and do it again.
So, let us go to the present, and some of the past and the very past experiences of Subicwater, the then Olongapo City Water District (OCWD) and PUD, in our humble yet very fulfilling experiences in our watershed maintenance.
One tree planting experienced by our associates was when they climbed the Balite Spring (year 1988). It is located about 3,500 km uphill from the nearest residential area of IRAM resettlement in Brgy. New Cabalan. There was nothing very different about this activity except, on the day of the tree planting, it started to rain heavily (tree-planting season is always carried out during the rainy season, so the tree seedlings can have ample natural supply of water). Undeterred by the rains and heavy baggages (we were of course, carrying big pots of rice, chopsuey, and meryenda!), we proceeded to climb the steep hills. Before this, they had to cross two rivers, which by then were close to overflowing. To make the long story short, we crossed the two rivers using ropes but this time with less pots (and clothes) to carry. We had a good day planting and a very memorable experience.
Another memorable tree planting experience was in year 2003, where the management committee of Subicwater trekked the hills of Brgy. Gordon Heights. The activity was made into a game where the participants were grouped into three teams. The teams were required to look for clues while traversing the trail to the tree-planting site. Some got lost, but after finding the clues, happily joined the group in solving the game. We were of course, required to carry our own tree seedlings and dig our own planting holes.
Just last year, Subicwater was awarded with 400 tree seedlings by SBMA Ecology Center, which were planted at the Subic Watershed Reserve located in Mt. Sta.
Rita, Brgy. Tipo. The tree seedlings and the area are being maintained by Subicwater as required by Ecology Center.
Subicwater in turn, in its commitment to watershed protection and preservation, has assigned a forester aide aside from the Environmental Officer to closely monitor and assure the survival of these tree seedlings.
This forester aide and his fondness for plants and tree planting were discovered in 2003 during the Production Department’s tree planting activity. He directed everybody at the site on how to properly plant trees and happily shared some of his planting experiences about trees. Recognizing his enthusiasm for the project, management gave him an opportunity to utilize his talents and assigned him as tree guardian to its watershed projects.
One of our commitments to a long-term partnership with our environment: protection and preservation of Olongapo and Subic Bay Watershed.
Copyright (c) 2007. Subic Water & Sewerage Co. Inc.