TWO provinces in the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern Philippines have received P80 million worth of support facilities to mitigate risks from climate change and natural disaster.
The provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino received the agroforestry support facilities through a joint project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“I hope that you are now more capable and empowered, ready to sustain our efforts in conserving our forest, protecting our environment, and mitigating climate change and disaster risks,” JICA Senior Representative Ide Soichiro said during the turnover ceremony, based on a press release from the agency.
The facilities are part of the Forestland Management Project, an 11-year program that seeks to conserve forests in the river basins of Upper Magat and Cagayan, Pampanga, and Jalaur, according to JICA.
JICA and DENR are using community-based forestland management strategies for the project, which includes partnering with and assisting people’s organizations (POs) for their enterprises.
“The project also assisted their 45 partner people’s organizations in said provinces in developing their enterprises. They have been working also on agroforestry value chain for coffee and high value fruits, which is expected to generate further incomes for farmers,” JICA said.
The Forestland Management Project has so far developed 71,300 hectares of tree and agroforestry plantations, which are being maintained and protected by partner POs.