NURTURE THE MARIKINA WATERSHED!
Planting The Seeds Of The Future

The iamninoy-iamcory Movement, together with the Community Action for Reforestation (CAREFOR), Fostering People’s Education, Empowerment, Enterprise (FPE3) and the Ayala Malls are calling for volunteers to join the second run of the highly successful tree nursery and planting program, “Nurture the Marikina Watershed!” on May 5, 2012 at Brgy. Calawis, Antipolo, Rizal.

The project is part of a massive multi-sector effort to increase forest cover of the Marikina watershed from the current 20% to a minimum sustainable level of 54%. This entails harnessing a new form of people power to build enough nurseries that would produce some 6.7 million seedlings for replanting in the area. The project invites the youth to take part in this noble endeavor.  

“Nurture the Marikina Watershed!” was launched last February 25, 2012 at Brgy. Calawis, Antipolo to commemorate the 26^th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. 167 iamninoy-iamcory volunteers engaged in potting, pruning, and preparing the incubation chambers for some 15,000 native wildings to be used during tree planting season. Some of the volunteers present at the event signed up last November and December 2011 in various Ayala Malls as part of the Project Inspire Campaign.

“We were pleasantly surprised with the enthusiastic response from the volunteers and the local community in Brgy. Calawis,” said NCAF President and Executive Director Rafael C. Lopa. “Through the program, a new form of People Power was harnessed to address pressing environmental concerns and to plant the seeds for a brighter future.”

Registration for the second run of “Nurture the Marikina Watershed!” will start at 5:30 am on May 5 in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City. Transportation to and from the event site, as well as food and drinks for all volunteers, will be provided.

NMW is a whole-day activity that will begin at 5:30 AM on May 5 in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City. Only registered volunteers will be allowed to join. Transportation to and from the event site, as well as food and drinks for all volunteers, will be provided.

In September 2009, Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) ravaged Metro Manila, leaving behind approximately 500 dead and 38 missing. Marikina City was one of the most devastated areas, as most of the city was submerged in water up to ten feet deep and tons of knee-deep mud when rampaging floodwaters broke the banks of the Marikina River. Marikina recorded 75 deaths, the highest among Metro Manila cities.

The seedlings that will be gathered and cultivated during the tree nursery building will be sowed during the planting season (June-October 2012), during which volunteers will again be mobilized.

“Nurture the Marikina Watershed!” is also made possible by the generous support of Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. and Yeo’s Juice Drink.

CLICK HERE to download the Nurture the Marikina Watershed! registration forms.

Project Proponents

Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF)
Through its youth program, the iamninoy-iamcory Movement, NCAF seeks to form a new breed of Filipino heroes who will live out the spirit of sacrifice and love for country, as embodied by Ninoy and Cory Aquino.

Ayala Malls
The biggest chain of world-class shopping malls in the country takes a stand to make a difference and pushes the hero in their customers through a series of initiatives that inspire and uplift people’s hearts.

Fostering People’s Education, Empowerment, Enterprise (FPE3)
FPE3 is a non-profit organization created by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (www.fpe.ph). FPE3 is one of the collaborating partners in the Marikina watershed initiative. FPE3 is specifically engaged in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Marikina watershed, particularly in the Boso-Boso and Tayabasan sub-watershed areas.

Community Action for Reforestation (CAREFOR)
CAREFOR is a community of volunteers replanting forests. It is a reforestation volunteer program that connects with indigenous and local communities to plant trees in their ancestral domain and community-designated reforestation areas. CAREFOR also partners with other organizations to mobilize more volunteers in order to plant more trees and build seedling nurseries.