Aquino allots P7B to green watersheds

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Aquino administration has set aside P7 billion for reforestation efforts in the country’s watersheds.

President Benigno Aquino III said on Friday he approved the allocation to enhance the watersheds for the sustainable operation of hydroelectric power plants.

“The project aims to sustainably manage the watersheds while increasing the incomes of local government units and communities in the process,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a text message over the weekend.

Lacierda said the integrated natural resources and environmental management program would cover the Bukidnon River Basin and Lake Lanao River Basin in Mindanao, Chico River Basin in the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Wahig-Inabanga River Basin in Bohol.

He said the funds would come from local sources and foreign funding institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, Global Environment Fund and International Fund for Agricultural Development. He said P5.82 billion would come from the foreign institutions while P1.42 billion would be sourced locally.

Lacierda said that while there was yet no breakdown of the funds to be earmarked per area, it was safe to say that at least half of them would be for Mindanao. Norman Bordadora