5,000 to join Marikina’s run for watershed rehab on Sept. 20

At least 5,000 running enthusiasts are expected to join in Marikina’s fourth advocacy run for the rehabilitation of the Marikina Watershed on Sept. 20.

Dubbed “Takbo Para sa Marikina Watershed,” the advocacy run that has been spearheaded by the local government since 2012 aims to “gather funds for the continuous tree planting project” of the 220 hectares of the 27,000-hectare Marikina Watershed, designated for the city to rehabilitate.

Earlier, public information head Paul Edward Sison said that experts told them that at least 28 million trees would have to be planted in the watershed, located in Rizal province covering Antipolo City and the municipalities of Rodriguez, San Mateo, Baras and Tanay.

Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman said that the huge number of trees to be planted in the watershed would make it effective in retaining rainwater and preventing the swelling of rivers, which has caused flooding such as what the city saw during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” on Sept. 26, 2009.

“We have to continuously grow trees at the watershed to significantly absorb rainwater in the area and prevent flooding in the metropolis like what happened in previous years,” De Guzman said in a statement.

In May, De Guzman warned that should the Marikina Watershed remain denuded, a repeat of the 2009 Ondoy floods is inevitable. “If we don’t get our acts together, a repeat [of the Ondoy floods] is possible, or even worse,” he then told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Storm Ondoy dumped in a day 455 millimeters of rain, equivalent to a month of rainfall, hence making the Marikina River swell and overspill.

Data from the city’s public information office cited a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration report that “suspected that more than 90 percent” of the rainfall from the watershed flowed toward the Metro lowlands, specifically the Marikina Valley area, because it only had a forest cover of 10 percent. The inability of the protected landscape to retain water was cited by the Marikina Watershed Initiative as “one of the reasons for the flooding in Metro Manila” during Ondoy.

Individuals interested in joining the advocacy run can register at City Hall or at SM Marikina, SM San Mateo, SM Masinag, CMP Mall and Riverbanks Mall. The advocacy run which has three race categories—3K, 5K and 10K—has a registration fee of P600.

City Hall is also accepting donations from individuals who want to help out but couldn’t join the run. Donations can either be in cash or tree saplings, which will be planted on Sept. 26at the watershed.