WEST Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has officially launched its 2026 Plant for Life program, setting an ambitious target to plant 230,225 indigenous tree seedlings across 450 hectares of the Ipo Watershed.
This initiative marks Maynilad’s largest annual planting target to date, focusing on priority forest restoration sites in Norzagaray, Bulacan, and Mt. Balagbag in Rizal, identified in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The Ipo Watershed serves as a vital component of the Angat-Ipo raw water system, which supplies Metro Manila’s daily water needs.
Reforesting degraded areas stabilizes the ecosystem by mitigating soil erosion and sedimentation, increasing raw water infiltration, and safeguarding regional biodiversity.
To ensure long-term ecological impact, Maynilad selected native tree species such as narra, kupang, and kalumpit, which are well-adapted to local terrain.
Moving beyond single-day planting events, the Plant for Life model incorporates a three-year site maintenance strategy executed in partnership with local people’s organizations.
Community caretakers conduct continuous monitoring, vegetation control, and seedling replacement to maximize growth.
“Watershed restoration is measured not only by how many seedlings are planted, but by how many are able to survive and become part of a functioning forest,” said Atty. Roel S. Espiritu, Maynilad Chief Sustainability Officer. “By combining indigenous tree planting with sustained site care and community stewardship, we help strengthen the natural systems that support water quality, water availability, and the resilience of nearby communities.”
This sustained approach has yielded an average seedling survival rate exceeding 85% over seven years, with the 2025 restoration effort achieving a DENR-validated 92.1% survival rate.
Since its inception in 2007, Plant for Life has planted over 1.64 million seedlings and reforested nearly 2,420 hectares.
The 2026 campaign kickoff mobilized Maynilad volunteers alongside corporate partners, including TELUS, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, GHD, Makati Medical Center, Light Rail Manila Corporation, and World Vision.