Reforestation of upper Marikina River basin underway
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed to the reforestation program of 1,800-hectare area within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) which is seen to ensure supply of water to over 500,000 households in the East.
Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Prime Infra-led WawaJVCo Inc. (WJI) Chairman Enrique Razon, for the water security, watershed protection and forest carbon and biodiversity management in the area.
UMRBPL is a 26,126-hectare basin that was declared a protected area in 2018. It covers the city of Antipolo and the municipalities of Baras, Rodriguez, San Mateo and Tanay.
“This particular endeavor will actually ensure that we will be supplying for over 500,000 households in the East soon, and we’re very grateful that some of our work in terms of keeping our forest whole in generating blue forest will be part of the work of this group as well,” Loyzaga said.
Under the MOU, both parties will conduct joint site assessments, survey, mapping and planning activities in line with the mandate of the DENR, and Prime Infra’s Environmental, Social, and Governance framework that integrates sustainability thinking in resource management and decarbonisation strategies.
