DENR gets P4.53-B JICA loan

MANILA, Philippines - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is extending a P4.53-billion loan to the environment department to implement a forestland management program in several provinces.

Documents from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that the forestland management program would be funded by a P4.53-billion loan from the JICA and P1.34 billion counterpart from the Philippine government.

The Environment department said the program, which is aimed at strengthening forestland management through community-based forest management, would be implemented for 10 years starting this year.

The project would be implemented in three river basins in three regions which are: the upper Magat and Cagayan river basin in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Pampanga river basin in Central Luzon region, and the Jalaur river basin in western Visayas region.

“It is expected that through this project the forest cover will be increased and properly conserved, the socio-economic conditions of the upland dwellers within these three river basins will be improved, and livelihood opportunities and infrastructure support will be provided,” the department said.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the program is one of the priorities of the department as it seeks to convert denuded lands to productive lands.

“These areas are mostly located in the uplands, where increasing consumption has effectively contributed to the decrease in forest cover,” he said.

The conversion of denuded lands to productive lands, he said, would help alleviate poverty in the areas covered by the program.

“The biggest capital is still land. We’re wasting the abundance of land in our country by not using them properly,” he said.

For his part, Japan’s Minister for Economic Affairs Akio Isomata said that as Japan is in close proximity to the Philippines, it is in its interest to promote cooperation between the two countries in the areas of climate change mitigation.

“Tackling the climate change issue is critical to ensure the sustainability of our resources,” he said.