Group, firms present 5-year plan for Cebu watershed development

Sun*Star Cebu
Monday, April 28, 2008

A five-year plan that will ensure safe drinking water for Cebu’s future generations was unveiled last Saturday by a group of business leaders and participated in by various Cebu-based companies.

In the plan, a nature center, butterfly sanctuary and camp site will be developed within the Buhisan Watershed.

The Buhisan Watershed covers 630 hectares out of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape.

The Save the Buhisan Watershed activity was in line with the Buhisan Watershed Integrated Development Project under the environmental advocacy program of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

The project is also in line with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) led by Lexmark International Philippines Inc., being the head of the Visayas MDG Business and Environment Cluster.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. also co-heads the program.

Eileen Mangubat, chairperson of the PBSP Hillyland Development Committee, said the development will bring a “true park” for Cebuanos.

“It will make us appreciate the wealth we have in our backyard,” she said.

Jun Sarmiento, chairman of the MDG Business and Environment Cluster, said the activity manifests volunteerism on the part of the companies and allows participants to take part in a global movement.

“Protecting our environment is (like ensuring that) our children have a better future,” he added.

Aside from the environmental efforts, PBSP and the MDG Business and Environment Cluster will also implement livelihood projects that will help 498 households within the Buhisan Watershed.

The groups observed that it is important to extend alternative livelihood to Buhisan watershed residents since most of them rely on cutting trees that are converted to charcoal for income.

Buhisan Barangay Captain Rustica Asid said the activity is “very much welcome” since it will help the residents.

Since the activity was in line with the country’s Earth Day Celebration, the group also held a tree planting activity participated by employees of Lexmark International, Pilipinas Shell, Celestica, Airlift Asia and the Cebu Private Power Corp. (DME)