Environment proj gets USAID funding

The USAID has approved the grant of funding support for the environmental governance project (phase 2) of the government which will be implemented in partnership with several government agencies and civil society organizations. Among the government agencies are: DENR; DILG; DA-BFAR; and League of Cities, Municipalities and Provinces. The Development Alternatives Inc. serves as the technical assistance contractor.

The project will build on the developments and successes of the project’s phase 1. Among these are the improved management of 625.2 km of coastline, establishment of 16 marine and protected areas (MPAs) and 276,000 hectares of forest cover, legitimized 52 forest land use plans (FLUPs) and 18 integrated solid waste management plans (ISWMPs).

The project will continue supporting initiatives along waste water, opportunities for local financing and efforts towards improved delivery of environmental services to targeted constituents. It will implement activities in areas affected by conflicts with focus on biologically important regions of Eastern and Southern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Northern Luzon.

The general purpose of EcoGov 2 is to help USAID and the Philippine government meet their joint mission of enhancing security, governance and capacities for sustainable equitable economic growth and their strategic objective of strengthening capacities to manage productive, life-sustaining natural resources."

It envisions that at the end of EcoGov 2, a greater number of institutions at the national and local level is adopting good environmental governance practices.