Foundation marks 1st year with call to plant trees

HE WHO plants a tree, plants a hope.”

This is the battle cry adopted by Million Trees Foundation Incorporated (MTFI) on its first anniversary celebration urging Filipinos to plant trees to sustain the supply of water across the country, particularly in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces for the next 30 years and beyond. MTFI celebrated its first anniversary at the Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learning Center at the La Mesa Dam compound in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The calls to plant trees were echoed by Elpidio Vega, chairman of the Metropolitan Waterworks System (MWSS), MWSS Adminsitrator Bobby Cleofas, Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan Ceso III of the Department of Envi- ronment and Natural Resources (DENR), Ramon Ang, president and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), J.V. Emmanuel de Dios,, president and CEO of Manila Water, Ramoncito Fernandez, president and CEO of Maynilad Water, Gen. Rey Velasco (Ret.), MTFI chairman emeritus, and Mel Velasco, MTFI president/executive director.

Crispinita Valdez, Amado Tandoc, Lei Lanna Dancel, Dave Tangcalagan, Jhobert Bernal, Kenneth Aristotle Punzalan, Rose Marasigan, and Maria Carmela Reyes.

Also suspended were 24 other officials of the Department of Budget and Management - Procurement Service (PS-DBM), including overall deputy

Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong and former DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao.

“The Department of Health respects the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to order the preventive suspension of several officials of the department,” the DOH said in a statement.