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Arra Perez

ABS-CBN News

<div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2961723"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div>QUEZON CITY – It&#x27;s the start of a new chapter for La Mesa Ecopark and Nature Reserve as ABS-CBN Foundation hands over its stewardship to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its concessionaires.   This, as the non-profit organization protected, preserved, and maintained Metro Manila&#x27;s only forest of its kind for the past 25 years, together with MWSS and the Quezon City local government unit.   Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, said &quot;it&#x27;s always hard to say goodbye in a way to anything&quot; but she is optimistic that the next stewards share the organization&#x27;s love for the environment.   &quot;Okay naman kasi iyong hina-hand over namin kay MWSS at iyong concessionaires at iyong DENR, naintindihan nila iyong importansya to protect this beautiful area. At least, I feel confident na okay lang, hindi mawawala iyong ginawa namin,&quot; she told ABS-CBN News.   &quot;Bigyan niyo ng chance iyong mga bagong magma-manage dito kasi, I think, sila rin may pagmamahal sa kalikasan,&quot; she added.   MWSS Administrator Engr. Leonor Cleofas expressed gratitude to ABS-CBN Foundation for preserving and protecting La Mesa, saying the turnover does not mean parting ways.   &quot;Hindi naman tayo nag-gu-goodbye sa ABS-CBN Foundation-Bantay Kalikasan. But rather, we want to continue our partnership. Kailangan po namin kayo para i-guide ang MWSS, ang ating dalawang concessionaires together with the local government of Quezon City - kina Mayor Joy - at gabayan kami para mapanatili namin ang pangangalaga sa ecopark at saka sa La Mesa watershed,&quot; she said.   Cleofas was also quick to add that La Mesa is not closing for good, as they intend to reopen the ecopark and nature reserve by mid-March.   Other attractions such as the swimming pool and wall climbing will also reopen &quot;in phases&quot;.   Employees willl also remain.   &quot;Together with our two concessionaires, we are absorbing the forest rangers and the employees of ecopark dahil sila po talaga ang nakakaalam kung ano ba ang daily needs ng ating watershed reservation at ecopark,&quot; Cleofas explained.   The Integrated Watershed Management Roadmap (IWMRAIL), an &quot;innovated, science-based, and evidence-based approach&quot; for dams is also in the works.   &quot;Dahil ang ating water naman ay nanggagaling sa Angat, dumadaan sa Ipo at iniimbak natin dito sa La Mesa. Nagkakaroon po ng additional water supply pag tag-ulan dahil meron tayong watershed na ginawa ng ABS-CBN na healthy,&quot; Cleofas shared.   REMEMBERING &#x27;GL&#x27;   Lopez-Feliciano also took the time to remember her sister, former ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director and environmental advocate Gina Lopez, who initiated the protection of La Mesa.   She said Lopez&#x27;s memory remains alive through this generation&#x27;s environmental advocates.   &quot;Nakaka-touch talaga na people still remember and appreciate iyong ginawa ng kapatid ko. Kasi siyempre iyon ang naging buhay niya,&quot; Lopez-Feliciano shared.   For Lopez-Feliciano, the legacy that will truly remain is the realization of how connected people are and how La Mesa has built a community where everyone can truly enjoy nature.   &quot;It&#x27;s the appreciation na lahat tayo konektado… I think it&#x27;s that allowing people to come here sa La Mesa and enjoy nature. Kasi paano mo mamahalin ang hindi mo alam? For you to be an environmental advocate, you need to have the love for it… Kailangan maramdaman mo talaga na importante ito, mahalin mo,&quot; she said.   Ascalon has this tip to La Mesa&#x27;s caretakers.   &quot;It&#x27;s really about patience. Trees take a while to grow so it also takes patience and loving care to nurture a forest. And it&#x27;s also about balancing nature with the needs of people,&quot; he said.   &quot;For the public naman, sa ating mga bisita, ating mga Kapamilya na tumatangkilik sa La Mesa, we hope you continue to take care of it. Spread the word, there&#x27;s nature here. It&#x27;s easy to access, but it&#x27;s also very fragile so we need to continue to nurture it for generations to come,&quot; he added.   Meantime, the MWSS assured that it will take care and even turn La Mesa into something more beautiful.   &quot;Ina-assure po namin kayo - ang MWSS, kasama ang dalawang concessionaires at sa gabay ng ating Quezon City Local Government Unit, kay Mayor Joy Belmonte - pagpapatuloy po natin ang ginawa ng ABS-CBN Foundation for 25 years… Asahan niyo po na bubuksan natin ito ulit sa publiko,&quot; Cleofas said.   ABS-CBN Foundation-Bantay Kalikasan will continue with its projects, including Verde Island Passage, which is among the centers of biodiversity in the world.

The ABS-CBN Foundation officially handed over the stewardship of the La Mesa Ecopark and Nature Reserve to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

The ABS-CBN Foundation officially handed over the stewardship of the La Mesa Ecopark and Nature Reserve to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

ABS-CBN Foundation hands over stewardship of La Mesa Ecopark to MWSS

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ABS-CBN Foundation hands over stewardship of La Mesa Ecopark to MWSS

Arra Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2024 12:10 AM PHT

Read More:

La Mesa Ecopark

La Mesa

ABS-CBN Foundation

MWSS

Quezon City

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