DENR 6 launches campaign to save watersheds

By Esther Abegale Cinco

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led the virtual provincial launching of the Save Our Watershed (SOW) campaign last August 10, 2021.

SOW campaign had its first launching nationwide on June 30, 2021, led by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.

The provincial launching of the campaign focuses on the importance of watershed conservation in Iloilo which will be felt in agriculture, livelihood, and energy production.

Not only will it benefit the wildlife and communities but will also propagate biodiversity and carbon storage.

Iloilo Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Forester Salvador Manglinong explained that the SOW campaign aims to mobilize stakeholders to help DENR save at least 130 critical watersheds in the country.

Manglinong added that it will also secure a formal declaration of commitment and partnership towards sound watershed management and sustainability from the various watershed initiatives by the government, private sectors, and support institutions.

The SOW campaign takes off from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded Forestland Management Project (FMP), a 10-year watershed rehabilitation project that aims to strengthen the forestland management through collaboration, comprehensive, and sustainable forestland management strategies.

“In 2012, the JICA funded FMP in Jalaur watershed. It is the biggest single DENR project outside of Luzon and will end by June 2022 based on the loan agreement with Japan,” Manglinong said.

FMP has established a total of 13 027 hectares with 54% of which are of coffee plantation, while other areas where under reforestation, agroforestry, fuelwood  and soil conservation model.

Manglinong said that the FMP has 22 people’s organizations (PO) beneficiaries duly registered with more than 2000 total membership.

In 2017, each PO had been granted a seed capital of PHP 100,000 to support their chosen livelihood ranging from native poultry production, buy and sell of agri-crops, and food preservation which, according to Manglinong, are gaining.

“31 agroforestry support facilities were implemented. Composed primarily of the construction of pathways, hanging bridges, irrigation pipeline systems, and concreting of roads and bridges,” Manglinong added.

The watershed campaign is envisioned to be replicated in other regions especially in provinces and other watershed management areas.

Forester Manglinong hopes that the watershed campaign ripples through other DENR offices and the local government units with the initiatives on watershed conservation.