The Sur Futuro Foundation, headed by Melba Segura de Grullón, has awarded several institutions for their environmental work. This is the Sixth Planting Water Awards.
Among the winners of awards are:
The Arturo Grullon Prize was handed to the Solidarity Group of Water Management of Capotillo and Hipolito Billini, in Loma de Cabrera. This is a group of 79 small farmers that have reforested and agrarian reform project with coffee, cacao and other endemic varieties of trees in an area covering 52,000 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters). The effort will assist in preserving the life of the Manati River and its 28 arroyos.
Another prize, the Eugenio de Jesus Marcano Fondeur Prize, was awarded to Angel Plutarco Segura Galvan, for his Forest Conservation “Loma El Firme” in Los Patios in Monte Bonito in Padre Las Casa, Azua Province.
The Father Louis Quinn Award was given to the Illuminating Needy Hearts Foundation and its program for Water, Cleanup and Hygiene in Baitoa, Santiago. This program assists in the proper storage of water, the collection of rainwater, and the purification of water in a community that does not have its own aqueduct. The community has provided 661 homes that serve 1,871 persons with clean water and hygiene through the use of cisterns. The foundation managed to provide 486 water tanks to collect rain waters, and cleaned up over two million gallons of water through the use of clay filters.
Each of the award winners received a check for RD$500,000 for the continued use in preserving and conserving water.
During the awards ceremony, Melba Segura de Grullón stressed the importance of adequate water stocks in times of severe drought. This May 2019, the Weather Office recorded 22% less than average rains, for example. In October, 62% of the country was under drought conditions, causing the reforestation efforts to be suspended.
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Listin Diario
18 November 2019