The DENR was represented by Regidor M. De Leon (regional executive director of DENR Region III).
The Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Mataas na Lupa ng Ayala, the peoples’ organization consisting of 65 household members, stands to benefit from the undertaking. The project site, which is located within the allowable zone of Mt. Arayat, was chosen from among the 133 CBFM sites in region III due to the interest and participation shown by the LGU, PO and concerned DENR offices and other criteria for selection.
Mayor Pastor A. Guiao said the MOA signing for the e-CBFMP site in Magalang ensures the sustainability and success of the project.
Hideki Miyakawa, chief advisor of DENR-JICA, said five of the 22 proposed model sites in Central Luzon were able to satisfy the criteria set by the Japanese government. These include the prevailing peace and order situation in the area, the expressed political will of the local government to help the project, and the commitment of local communities to perform the activities of the project. Miyakawa said participation and support of the different stakeholders is very important.
Launched by the DENR last year, the five-year Enhancement of Community-Based Forest Management Project (ECBFMP) is a technical cooperation between JICA and DENR mainly focusing on technology transfer and capacity building for peoples’ organizations and related staff of DENR and LGU. It received a technical assistance grant of P250 million from the Japanese government through the JICA. This CBFM enhancement project covers five model sites in Magalang and Sapangbato in Pampanga; Gen. Tinio in Nueva Ecija; and Botolan in Zambales.
This is the second major forestry project of the Japanese government in the Philippines. The RP-Japan Forest Development Project in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, launched in 1976, was the first forestry project financed by the Japanese government.