The Japan-funded Forest Management Program (FMP) of the Philippines was launched this week in Quezon City, with Japanese Embassy official Akio Isomata and Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources delivering messages on the prime importance of climate change.
Also witnessing the launching were Gov. Junie E. Cua of Quirino province and Gov. Arthur D. Defensor Sr. of Iloilo.
These two provinces are where two of the country’s three river basins (Upper Magat in Cagayan, Jalaur in the Visayas) that are considered critical and thus targeted as beneficiaries of the project. The third basin is Pampanga in Cental Luzon.
FMP is funded at about P5.084 billion (Yen 9.244 billion), which was signed in Tokyo during the visit there of President Benigno s. Aquino III in September last year.
It is an Official Development Assistance (ODA) yen loan coursed through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The Japanese Embassy in Manila said this project is in line with Japan’s objective of assisting developing countries in enhancing various policy measures against climate change.
The FMP forms part of Japan’s support for developing countries on climate change up to 2012, the Fast-Track Finance, which was announced earlier.
Activities under the project will include ecological restoration of degraded forestland, enhancement of upland economic development, and establishment of improved watershed management systems.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario signed the yen-loan agreement in Tokyo, [PNA]
