On May 13, 2021, a Tree Planting activity was held at Villa Sorabella, Barangay Concepcion Grande, Naga City, in connection with the Forest-in-our-Midst (FOM) project. The event was initiated by the Sarong Banggi Organization Inc. (SBOI), represented by Farah Llagas and participated in by the Local Government Unit of Naga (LGU-Naga), through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) represented by Engr. Dante Cea, Villa Sorabella Homeowners Association (VSHA) and the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) through OIC Assistant General Manager for Operations and Technical Services, Vicente Aniceto Rubio. The said activity was also the FOM project turnover to the VSHA with the SBOI who expressed their support to the said program.

FOM is an initiative of the LGU-Naga in partnership with MNWD, driven by its commitment to protect and manage the Naga River watershed. The purpose of this program is to safeguard the environmental integrity and economic prosperity within the city of Naga; which is why there is a need to involve key sectors of society to help in the realization of its goals and promote inter-organizational linkages within different institutions, agencies and civic organizations, therefore creating a large network of environmentally conscious groups.

With this, the SBOI together with the VSHA supported FOM program through the involvement of homeowners in the promotion of environmental and economic programs for the benefit of the people and the community they live in. Further, SBOI signified to take part in the efforts to manage, rehabilitate, and protect watersheds within the Naga River Watershed, particularly the Villa Sorabella Open Public Space, which will be named as Sorabella SB FOM Park.

The success of ensuring environmental integrity and sustainable community development can only be effectively achieved through collaboration and active participation. The MNWD and all others involved in this FOM program, highly values the principle of unity and camaraderie in the process of protecting our city’s watersheds and improving the quality of life for the present and future generations. (YMMSavilla)

A total of 1,000 seedlings of Narra, Marumanga, and Buhokan were planted at the Villa Sorabella Open Public Space, which will soon grow to provide a greener and healthier environment.

The Naga Sarong Banggi Council of Elders and Villa Sorabella Homeowners Association’s participation in the FOM project is a valuable addition to the effort of protecting our watersheds.