CFC – Handmaids of the Lord joins DCWD’s reforestation

Couples for Christ– Handmaids of the Lord (CFC – HOLD) has recently joined the growing number of adopters of Davao City Water District’s Adopt-a-Site Project after CFC – Building Church of the Poor (CFC – BCOP) South Eastern Mindanao coordinator Nelia Partoza, CFC – HOLD coordinator Concepcion Yulo and CFC – BCOP head Irwin Pagdalian signed the memorandum of agreement with DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado last December 4 at the DCWD Matina office. Also present during the signing were DCWD spokesperson Imelda T. Magsuci and Environment and Watershed Protection Division manager Anthony D. Miranda.

At the close of the year and with the addition of CFC – HOLD, the Adopt-a-Site Project already has 87 adopters helping finance the rehabilitation of 139 hectares of land inside Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed.

In the agreement, CFC – HOLD pledged to donate Php6,000 every year for five years to help shoulder the rehabilitation cost of one hectare of land inside Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed. This amount will help defray the costs of seedlings, fertilizer and labor for hauling, planting and maintenance activities in the adopted area.

On behalf of the DCWD management, acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado thanked CFC – HOLD for their support. He also asked the CFC – HOLD to help DCWD in encouraging more adopters to join the cause of protecting the 1watersheds.

The Adopt-a-Site Project was launched in 2001 after DCWD saw the importance of multi-sectoral participation in the protection and rehabilitation of the water sources of Davao City. Since then, it was able to garner support from various individuals, groups, agencies and companies. In fact, the help of the adopters was very instrumental in the complete and successful rehabilitation of 530 hectares of land inside Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed in 2010. This positive development encouraged DCWD to add another 470 hectares in 2011 of which rehabilitation 285.5 hectares have already been rehabilitated.