DENR to implement 10-yr. forest project
A forest management project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will benefit Iloilo’s watershed particularly the Jalaur Watershed that covers three municipalities, a report of the Philippine News Agency said.
The 10-year project will focus on watershed improvement of the 129,000-hectare Jalaur Watershed that includes the Jalaur River in Calinog; Ulian River in Lambunao; and Suage River in Janiuay.
The total hectarage is still up for validation although some 8,000 hectares have already been validated.
The project site is now in a critical level as a result of various improper farming practices by several upland dwellers.
The initiative will be funded through a loan from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation amounting to some P5.8 billion, which will be shared with similar projects to be implemented at the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 2 and Region 3 in Luzon.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Val Talabero said activities for the project will include community organizing, capability building, reforestation of watershed and agro-forestry.
Initially, it will benefit stakeholders or upland dwellers living in timberland areas or those lands owned by the government.
“This is a holistic project,” Talabero said, as everybody will be actively involved.
Talabero said that improving the life support system at the headwaters of the watershed will have a great impact on the lowlanders.
Forester Tonyboy Latoza has been assigned to serve as the over-all project manager who will also oversee sub-project managers assigned in areas that will be covered by the project.
“We would like to show to the world that we are serious in implementing this project,” Talabero said.
PENRO-Iloilo is also preparing to update their baseline data on Jalaur Watershed last taken in 2003, and a project operation manual is also being refined as part of the preparations for the implementation.
