Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. attends the Organizational Meeting of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Reforestation on December 10, 2025.
Since his time as Angeles City Mayor, Lazatin has strongly advocated for the protection and preservation of the environment, particularly the Sapangbato Watershed.
The Angeles City Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which identified a total of 546 hectares of land located in the upland areas of Barangay Sapangbato as ‘protected agricultural land’ and designated as a ‘no build’ zone, was approved during his term.
Under Lazatin’s leadership, the Angeles City LGU also launched a massive reforestation program in the Sapangbato Watershed, in partnership with the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council, Inc. (ARAW-ACI) founded by the late Renato “Abong” Tayag, Jr.
By the time Lazatin stepped down from office, a total of 145,041 seedlings have been planted in the watershed.
As Pampanga First District Representative, one of the first legislation filed by Lazatin is House Bill No. 2423, “An Act Declaring Sapangbato as a Protected Area in the Province of Pampanga, Providing For Its Management And For Other Purposes.”
Lazatin was announced as a member of the Special Committee on November 12, 2025.
The Special Committee on Reforestation shall handle all matters directly relating to policies and programs on reforestation, including the effects of forest denudation, and other actions to ensure the implementation of a sustained community-based nationwide reforestation program.
