ANGAT, Bulacan, Philippines — In his concern to protect the Bulacan rivers and the Angat Watershed Area, a source of potable drinking water in this province and in Metro Manila, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado and the Provincial Public Affairs Office headed by Maricel Santos-Cruz led the planting of 5,000 bamboo cultivars and seedlings of various trees species on the riverbanks of the Bustos auxiliary dam in Barangay Laog, here, last Saturday.

Aiming to create public awareness on pressing environmental issues for the protection of the various river systems in Bulacan and one of his seven agenda, Alvarado tied up this program with the second annual national tree planting activity of San Miguel Brewery (SMB) Inc.

Alvarado in an interview conducted by Bulacan Media Investigative Reporters (BMIR) Monday morning, said the project served as a vehicle to raise consciousness on relevant issues affecting the people’s lives, particularly people’s awareness on climate change and the little things and ways to alleviate its detrimental effects.

Alvarado said the tree planting as well as bamboo development project will not only serve as a mitigation measure against climate change, disaster and poverty but also promote livelihood opportunities in the province.

Atty. Rustico de Belen, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) chief, said, such efforts, little by little, they hope to be able to change the mindset of the people as regards to the environment.

De Belen said, this is the initial step towards the objective to develop the river banks of Barangay Laog into a tourist destination.