One thousand five hundred (1,500) Narra and Acacia seedlings were planted during a tree planting event with a theme “Let’s Cool the Earth, Plant/Grow Trees for Legacy”, which Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) hosted last September 12, 2008 held at the vicinity of the MRWD new Water Treatment Plant site at Sitio Paslang, Brgy. Salocon, Panitan, Capiz.

The proponent of the project was the Capiz Provincial Task Force on Environmental Protection (CPTFEP) of which MRWD is a member. The activity was conceptualized in a CPTFEP meeting held last July 16, 2008 when leaders of agencies met after Typhoon “Frank”. Interim General Manager Engr. Pablo B. Bercilla believed that the priority areas should be the watershed. Thus, MRWD initiated two (2) ocular surveys last August 5 & 14, 2008 and a Planning Workshop held last September 5, 2008.

Around 80 participants representing different member agencies, namely; the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Cost Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Panitan LGU participated in the tree planting activity.

As host, MRWD IGM, Engr. Pablo B. Bercilla welcomed the guests and participants. As Guest of Honor, Panitan Municipal Mayor, Hon. Katherine D. Belo gave a message by thanking everyone for choosing her municipality as the tree planting site. The CPTFEP Chairman and SP Member Hon. Rommel Lastimoso also gave a message to all the participants imparting to them the environmental impact of the activity.

The ceremonial tree planting activity was set to ignite the fire of planting more trees along Panay River. The task to continue and maintain the project was vested on MRWD.