CHEMREZ TECHNOLOGIES Inc., the country?s largest biodiesel manufacturer, has entered into a partnership with the Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. and another one with the Department of Science and Technology to further expand its ?green advocacy.?
The biodiesel firm said it will soon sign with Manila Water a memorandum of agreement, in which Chemrez has committed to support the water concessionaire over the next five years in its goal to plant more trees in the Ipo Dam watershed in Bulacan.
With DOST meanwhile, the company has committed to support a recognition or awarding program encouraging environment-friendly inventions.
In a statement, Chemrez said that Manila Water has tapped Bantay Kalikasan, headed by environmentalist Gina Lopez, to manage the reforestation program, similar to what was forged for the successful tree-planting project at the La Mesa Dam.
A whole-day tree planting activity has been scheduled today at the Ipo Dam watershed, where volunteers will plant bamboo.
Bamboo has been proven to prevent soil erosion better than other plants because of its roots? ability to hold soil together more efficiently. Also, a single bamboo plant absorbs a ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime, therefore, helping clean the atmosphere and mitigating global warming and climate change.
Bamboo plants are likewise expected to prevent siltation at the Ipo Dam, thus avoiding unnecessary additional cost to clean and purify water supply for human consumption. This unwanted expense, if incurred, ultimately means higher price of water to consumers.
People of the Dumagat tribe, who live around Ipo Dam, will also gain a source of livelihood as they may regularly harvest the bamboo to make them into building materials, handicrafts, charcoal and other products that they can sell. Bamboo is a grass species and can regenerate itself rapidly.
Meanwhile, the DOST and Chemrez recently announced the search for honorees of the 2010 Chemrez Green Chemistry Awards. These honorees will be chosen from the finalists in the 2010 National Invention Contests and Exhibits to be held on Nov. 25-27, 2010 at SM Cebu Trade Hall in Cebu City.
