R2 forestland management gains improved watersheds, better infrastructures

In an endeavor to heighten the country's 'Save our Watershed' campaign, the implementation of the Forestland Management Project (FMP) in the Cagayan Valley has gained improved watersheds and infrastructure facilities.

 

In her message during the opening of the CY 2022 Year-end Assessment cum Policy Workshop today, Regional Executive Director (RED) Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Cagayan Valley enumerated the accomplishments of the project which aimed at strengthening the region's forestlands particularly in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

 

With the implementation of Agroforestry Support Facilities, the region officially turned over 37 completed infrastructures to the local government units and partner Peoples Organizations (POs) such as access roads, tire paths, bridges, and irrigation pipeline systems.

 

Under the comprehensive site development component, the community resource management frameworks and community management plans of the 45 POs were affirmed while three integrated watershed management plans were approved.

 

More than 91,000 hectares of forest and agroforestry plantations were established in the said provinces.

 

A total of 2,488 PO members were trained with technical and managerial support to enhance their living condition as partners in watershed rehabilitation that ultimately increase the region's forest cover.

 

The Ganano River Sub-Watershed Management Committee in Quirino province and Nueva Vizcaya Watershed Management Council were institutionalized which are contributing factors in maintaining the PO while they formulate their own community programs.

 

In support of the project implementation, the region also initiated the search for best FMP forest plantation where a hectare of land is established in each of the eight sub-watershed areas.

 

The best forest plantation demonstration areas were awarded to sub-watershed areas of Upper-Matuno, first; Manga, 2nd; and Benay, 3rd; all in Nueva Vizcaya.

 

"We aim to showcase different silvicultural practices to serve as model to our partner POs and promote high level of consciousness on the importance of saving the watersheds," Director Bambalan said.

 

She also said the region recently secured the support of the Regional Development Council chaired by Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III, passing a resolution adopting the proposed measures to address the destructive use of herbicides specifically glyphosate in upland corn farming. The said move seeks to prevent soil erosion and landslides, thus, will improve the forests vegetation cover.

 

"Our efforts in saving our watersheds do not end here. This is just the beginning of our life long vision to sustain a clean, healthy and climate-resilient environment," added the regional environment chief.

 

Meanwhile, DENR Assistant Secretary Marcial Amaro Jr. who represented Undersecretary Jonas Lleones, emphasized the individual and collective roles of project implementers in the regional and field implementing units as the project nears its closure in July, this year.

 

"We are all together in this challenging time. Let us still continue working with our POs to ensure the gains and sustainability of the project," ASec. Amaro Jr. said.

 

The ASec. for Policy, Planning and Foreign and Assisted Special Project (PPFASP) also emphasized the recommendation of policies based from the 10-year implementation of the FMP. "As we transition to the end phase of the project, we have to account all activities we have done and improve our policy development system," he added as he thanked the group for its support to the project.

 

The FMP, a 10-year project started in 2012 funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is implemented in three critical river basins of the country namely; Upper Magat and Cagayan River Basins in the provinces of Ifugao in Cordillera Administrative Region and Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in R2; Upper Pampanga River Basin in Nueva Ecija in R3; and Jalaur River Basin in Iloilo in R6.

 

The three-day event aims to discuss among the key project implementers the remaining activities to be done. It is also being actively participated by RED Ralph Pablo of CAR, RED Livino Duran and Assistant Regional Director Ivene Reyes of R6, Forest Management Bureau (FMB) OIC, Assistant Director Edna Nuestro, other officials of the PPFASP, FMB and Central Project Management Office, and concerned PENR Officers and officials in the four regional and field implementing units.#