Through its annual Earth Day running event, “Lakbay Kalikasan Earth Day Fun Run,” Manila Water, in collaboration with Manila Water Foundation (MWF), showcased the beauty of Metro Manila’s last ecological frontier, the La Mesa Ecopark (LME).
For this year’s Earth Day celebration, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water highlights the power of collective effort in safeguarding our one and only Earth.
Through its annual Earth Day running event, “Lakbay Kalikasan Earth Day Fun Run,” Manila Water, in collaboration with Manila Water Foundation (MWF), showcased the beauty of Metro Manila’s last ecological frontier, the La Mesa Ecopark (LME).
The event was graced by Manila Water President and CEO Jocot De Dios, MWSS Regulatory Office Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty, MWSS Corporate Office Department Manager for Policy, Planning, and Public Relations Christian Nicole Baluca, and Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department Chief Ian Francis Agatep. MWF Executive Director Reginald Andal officially started the run with the firing of the starting gun.
“This venue is very significant because the La Mesa Ecopark is not it’s not just the one of the last remaining lungs in Metro Manila, it’s also a vital water source that provides clean water in Metro Manila,” said Ty.
For this year’s Earth Day celebration, East Zone concessionaire Manila Water highlights the power of collective effort in safeguarding our one and only Earth.
“Napakahalaga ng saribuhay at ang mga iba’t ibang proyekto at gawain upang maipagtagumpay natin ang katubigan natin dito, hindi lang ang pangangalaga sa ating watershed ngunit ang ating iba’t ibang biodiversity initiatives. Sa amin po sa Climate Change Environmental Sustainability Department, napakahalaga po ng bawat isa sa atin, kung paano po ang bawat yapak nyo sa takbo ngayon ay isa ding takbo natin para sa kinabukasan at sa ating kalikasan. [Biodiversity is very important, as well as the various projects and activities for our water resources (here in La Mesa Ecopark), not just the protection of our watershed but also our various biodiversity initiatives. For us in the Climate Change Environmental Sustainability Department (of the Quezon City Local Government), each one of us is very important, and how each of your steps today is also a step for our future and our environment.] says Agatep.
More than 180 runners from various government and private organizations and the public gathered at LME to participate in 6KM and 3KM runs around the Ecopark. While promoting physical health, participants enjoyed the scenic views offered by LME, fostering a deeper connection to nature and a greater appreciation for the environment.
The event also featured a seed bagging activity, nature walk, and guided tours showcasing the flora and fauna of La Mesa Ecopark. These activities highlight how the La Mesa Ecopark and Watershed supports the provision of clean water to the community and preservation of the ecosystem and emphasized ways individuals can contribute to environmental protection.
This year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” set by EARTHDAY.ORG, calls for a tripling of renewable energy generation by 2030 to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all.
Additionally, this year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, with participation from 192 countries, including the Philippines, and over one billion people worldwide, demonstrating Earth Day’s longstanding power to unite people for a better future.
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