WB extends fund support for DENR projects

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank (WB) has extended for another year funding support for projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This was announced yesterday by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje who said the funding extension given by the Washington-based lender was prompted by “substantial improvement in the performance” of the DENR  in the implementation of the five year National Program Support for the Environment and Natural Resources Management Project (NPS-ENRMP) which is set to expire this month.

The program was first implemented in 2007 to support the expenditure for the Department’s core services.

Paje said that by the end of November, disbursement of funds for key projects rose  60 percent.

Among the projects enrolled for funding under the program are the conduct of forest boundary delineation, cadastral surveys and the National Greening Program.

The World Bank originally provided total funding of $57 million for the program, comprised of $50 million in loan and $7 million in grant.

The extension will allow the DENR to fully utilize the remaining balance of $19 million.

“The funding extension for the NPS-ENRMP will provide impetus in the completion of the programs which have a long-term and profound impact on the lives of Filipinos,” said Paje.

Other projects covered by the program are the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay, biodiversity, and conservation, soil conservation and watershed management, protected areas and wildlife management, assessment and rehabilitation of abandoned and inactive mine site, air and water quality improvement, and solid waste management.