District 3830 in partnership with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the City of Taguig held a well attended community consultative meeting last August 2, 2008, at the City Hall of Taguig.  It was focused on the Taguig Watershed Bamboo Reforestation, an offshoot of the LLDA’s Save Laguna Lake program, involving the active participation of community leaders from 13 Barangays in Taguig who shall become partners in service of D3830 Rotary clubs.

Speaking in behalf of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tiñga, who just left for the US, Councilor Gloria de Mesa welcomed the D3830 officers, club presidents and the representatives of Taguig City communities.  It was followed by the welcome remarks of SAG for Community Service, PP Edna Sutter. To get everybody familiarized with Rotary, RCC Chairman, PP Harold Dacumos, gave an overview of the meeting agenda and briefed the attendees on District 3830’s role in the project.

LLDA GM Ed Manda (also the IPP of RC Makati Central) presented videos on the importance of bamboo propagation, its positive impact to the Laguna Lake environs and the livelihood that will be created for the benefit of the poor communities in the project’s areas of coverage.

Pres Alice Lucas of RC Taguig West, the appointed coordinator of the SLL -Taguig Watershed group enumerated the 16 committed D3830 clubs that compose the core members of the project.  Realizing the significance of the service project, the SSL-Taguig Watershed group now numbers to 22 clubs and still expected to increase.

DG Boyet Limon delivered an inspiring talk where he enjoined D3830 clubs to each establish and develop, at least, one committed RCC.  The District will then recognize the Most Outstanding RCC during the District Awards ceremonies by the end of the current Rotary Year.  He also encouraged Rotary clubs to launch a campaign with the other districts, such as D3820 and D3800, whose areas surround the Laguna Lake.

Because the Save Laguna Lake’s bamboo propagation is a long term program, Gov Boyet challenged the participating clubs not allow it to become a “ningas cogon” project, particularly that it takes about 6 months for bamboo seedlings to mature into trees.  He gladly announced that DGE Sid Garcia has already expressed his commitment to continue supporting what has been started by D3830 clubs, thus ensuring the project's continuity in the coming term.

In response, Mr. Freddie Espital, the Head of Lakes and Rivers Management of Taguig, provided the list of 13 Barangays who will be D3830’s community service partners, which includes Wawa, Hagonoy, Sta. Ana, Lower Bicutan, Usasan, Palingon, Ibayo, Bagong Bayan, Calsada, Napindan, Tuktukan, Bamban, and Ligid.  They are the identified RCCs to be match with a Rotary Club.

The Division Chief of LLDA, Jose K. Cariño III, who facilitated the holding of the meeting, asked the RCCs to identify possible sites where a bamboo nursery and plantation may be established.  Everyone unanimously decided that the shoreline area which was dried up for the construction of the Lakeshore Dike in Taguig, for the whole 9 kilometer stretch of the dike, is the most ideal site for the bamboo reforestation project.

While everyone was having lunch provided by the City government, sessions continued where selected RCCs were matched with their counterpart Rotary clubs, thus officially establishing the D3830 Rotary Community Corps for the SLL-Taguig Watershed Bamboo Propagation project.  The meeting proper was ended by the closing remarks of Councilor AP Bartolome.

PP Cory Quirino (RC Makati Legaspi) interviewed GM Ed Manda and Real Good Presidents Alice Lucas (RC Taguig West), Brenda Hernandez (RC Parañaque Metro) Pol Casale (RC Parañaque Metro South), Yolly Abueg (RC Makati Bel-Air) and Dan Daffon (RC Makati Greenbelt).