DENR, JICA set to launch 5-year forestry project

A milestone in forest management in the country is the implementation of the five-year Project for Enhancement of Community-Based Forest Management in the Philippines (CBFM). Funded by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), it took off on June 15, 2004 and ends in 2008.

The CBFM program started in 1995 and has been institutionalized as the national strategy for the country’s sustainable development of forest land and resources. It is a participatory approach in development and management of forest resources. The major actors in its implementation are the DENR, local government units, people’s organizations and non-government organizations.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of these actors to manage the CBFM areas. It is expected the project will contribute in bringing about appropriately managed forest and forest lands and improved socio-economic condition of CBFM program participants.

The project becomes more relevant to the country with the resolve of President Arroyo to fight poverty in her 10-point agenda and protection and rehabilitation of watersheds for clean and abundant water supply. It is also consistent with the executive order on sustainable forest management which was signed by the President early this month.

These facts were highlighted by Undersecretary for field operations Renato A. de Rueda in a message during the orientation workshop of the DENR-JICA project on Aug. 10-12 at Grand Boulevard Hotel. De Rueda said the concern of CBFM is basically to help the poor so he challenged the participants to do their share for the success of this program. Assistant Secretary Rafael Camat of DENR describes the project as a "chance of a lifetime."

Shozu Matsuura, JICA resident representative, said this project is an opportunity for the DENR and JICA to exchange resources and experiences and expressed his office utmost support towards its success.

The orientation workshop was attended by 44 representatives from the DENR offices nationwide who are involved in CBFM implementation. It was managed by the human resource development service-DENR headed by Adeluisa G. Siapno.