DENR pushes community approach in reforestation

The implementation of DENR-JICA Project for the Enhancement of Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) in the Philippines is expected to intensify after completion of preparatory activities that created inroads in key areas of concern.

Such inroads together with the plans for 2005 were discussed during a project meeting on Dec. 16 attended by JICA experts headed by the project chief advisor Kideki Miyakawa and DENR counterparts headed by forester Domingo Bacalla, head of CBFM Office, representing the project manager and Forest Management Bureau Director Romeo T. Acosta, and project training component, HRDS director Adeluisa G. Siapno.

Started on June 15, 2004 this five-year project aims to promote the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable utilization of forests and land resources with the CBFM area through the initiative of people’s organizations with support from the DENR.

Local government units and other relevant institutions and organizations.

Activities will focus mainly in obtaining meaningful experiences in some CBFM sites particularly in the model sites in Central Luzon and extend the lessons to a broader area, and come up with policy recommendations; and establishing a sustainable mechanism for implementing CBFM activities.

The bilateral agreement between Japan and the Philippines provides that both parties shall provide opportunities for technical cooperation. Japan provides grants in the form of provision of a regiment of technical expertise, training opportunities, equipment, piloting activities and policy review and reform.

The Philippines will provide counterparts in the form of manpower complement, project facilities and certain funding to close the "funding gaps".

For 2005, there are four project components: model site, training information and policy. To ensure effective implementation of targeted activities, the country’s counterpart in each component will be sent by JICA to a training in Japan in March to April 2005.