MOA on Caliraya-Lumot watershed rehab signed

MANILA, Philippines — The National Power Corp. (Napocor) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) for the rehabilitation of 25 hectares of denuded upland forest within the Caliraya-Lumot watershed forest reserve in Laguna.

Napocor president and chief executive officer Fernando Martin Roxas said the partnership would not only establish new plantations but also nourish reforested areas for eight years.

“This partnership will help us hasten the rehabilitation of the Caliraya-Lumot watershed, a critical water resource for Caliraya and Kalayaan hydroelectric power plants. Restoring these open areas will also enhance water conservation, erosion control and biodiversity conservation in the area,” Roxas said.

Napocor said the MOA would utilize a comprehensive and integrated approach in implementing reforestation activities, including site assessment and planning, reforestation and tree planting as well as capacity-building of people’s organizations and raising awareness in the communities.

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje expressed his gratitude to Napocor for allowing the commission to take part in the watershed rehabilitation.

He said these would help offset carbon footprint as well as change and transform the lives, livelihoods and future of the people who will be affected by the project.

The partnership is part of Napocor’s energy sector carbon sequestration initiative, a program it launched with the Department of Energy in October 2021.