Towards a Greener Community – Bayanihan Ipo Dam Watershed Adoption

For the second part of the Bayanihan event, the University of the Philippines Circle of Engineering Students (UP CREST) aims to promote the care for the nature by participating once again in the watershed adoption of Ipo Dam. Last September 26, 2015, eighteen volunteers from UP CREST made their way to Ipo Dam in Norzaragay, Bulacan to take part in a tree planting activity.

The volunteers received warm greetings from the locals residing on the shores of the watershed. After a few minutes of appreciating the beauty of Ipo Dam, they were then ecstatic to add young trees to the scenery. In order to get to the planting site, the volunteers would need to ride boats to get across the watershed. Luckily, the locals in the area were willing to lend their boats for just a small price.

After reaching the planting site, the volunteers were given preliminary instructions on how to properly plant the seedlings - from removing the seedlings from its container, to placing them on holes which were already dug by the locals, and finally, covering the holes with ample amount of soil to keep it in place. The volunteers, with their eagerness to help, were able to finish planting the seedlings in no more than an hour giving them plenty of time to ride on boats and sail around the dam.

Aside from volunteering for the tree planting activity, UP CREST has also pledged to donate one hundred seedlings. Each pledge costs Php 20, which will be given to the project as funds for buying one seedling.

Through this event, the students once again strengthened their thrust of volunteerism. Next year, the organization pledges to donate more seedlings and to find other places where there is a need to plant trees. Everyone is encouraged to join the advocacy as we advance towards a greener community.

By Mark Lenczner Mendoza