In celebration of their 51st Founding Anniversary, the National Irrigation Administration Pangasinan promulgated the Rehabilitation and Protection of Water Resource Supporting Irrigations System under the National Irrigation Master Plan (NIMP). Accordingly, the Dumulec River Watershed, which has a total size of 3,603.33 hectares and is located in the Pangasinan Municipalities of Sta Cruz, Zambales, Bugallon, and Aguilar, is one of the piloting projects for the National Irrigation System (NIS).
The administration invited potential students and faculty members from PSU-LC (Pangasinan State University – Lingayen Campus) in the field of environmental science, agriculture, and biology to participate in the plantation activities last June 28, 2022, in Sitio Mapita, Barangay Laoag, Aguilar, Pangasinan. This was carried out to signal a firm partnership between the two parties and to provide exposure to future professionals in the development of climate change adaptive communities.
As an active response to this sustainable activity and to usher in environmental responsiveness, 5 student members of The Environmentalists’ Club joined the said activity with their adviser, sir Reinneo Paolo G. Taliño, and the chairperson of the Science Education Department, sir Frienzky B. Macayana. The 51 participants are comprised of 18 students from II BSED SCIENCE, 17 students from III BSED SCIENCE, and 16 students from IV BSED SCIENCE. There was a total of 150 participants from the University. The enthusiastic partakers are subdivided into two groups, such as the first batch and the second batch so that the proper adherence to the minimum health protocols during these times is still coherently observed while carrying out the activity.
Additionally, before the tree planting proper, the organizers led a short opening program and orientation to lay out the day’s objectives and guarantee the natality rate of the trees to be planted later on. Afterward, a 25-minute hike was accomplished by the participants with their corresponding guides to get to the plantation area. Additionally, over a thousand trees of different varieties were planted across the designated plantation zone. Also, accommodations for the food and transportation expenses of the students and teachers coming from the campus were humbly shouldered by the program coordinators.
In cooperation with the Mapita Tribal Indigenous Peoples Community Organization Incorporated, this undertaking firmly planted its success. Its theme “Trees. Water. Life. Greening the Philippines the NIA way” emanated its meaning as the participants cultivated seeds of hope for the many years to come and for the next generation.
