Maynilad Water Services Inc. has launched its 2025 “Plant for Life” program with a goal of planting 180,000 native trees in the Ipo and other critical watersheds this year, the company announced Wednesday.

The initiative aims to enhance long-term water security, conserve biodiversity and promote climate resilience.

In a statement, the water concessionaire said that the program began with a large-scale planting event at the Ipo Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan and volunteers from private companies, civil society groups, media organizations and local communities joined Maynilad representatives, including the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and other companies within the MVP Group.

“Watershed reforestation is crucial to safeguarding the region’s water resources,” said Maynilad chief sustainability officer Roel Espiritu. “Trees improve water infiltration, prevent soil erosion, and reduce sedimentation in dams, ultimately ensuring water quality and supply reliability for our 10.5 million customers. Just as important, this program helps restore local biodiversity and creates sustainable livelihood opportunities for nearby communities.”

Since the program’s launch in 2007, Maynilad has planted more than 1.45 million trees across nearly 2,000 hectares, expanding beyond the Ipo and La Mesa watersheds to include the Kaliwa watershed, mangrove belts along Manila Bay and areas near Laguna Lake.

To help ensure a high survival rate for the trees, Maynilad has hired members of the Dumagat community and other local groups to serve as forest stewards. These individuals are responsible for nursery operations, monitoring, replanting and forest protection under a structured three-year care program.

The reforested areas are estimated to sequester approximately 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, contributing to climate mitigation and aligning with Maynilad’s broader sustainability goals. DT