DENR launches advocacy campaign to protect watersheds in C. Luzon

 

 

In a bid to intensify the protection and conservation of forests and watersheds in Central Luzon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here launched recently the “Save Our Watershed” advocacy campaign.

 

In his message during the provincial launch in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Paquito Moreno, Jr., executive director of DENR regional office, said watershed is an important source of water for power generation including domestic and irrigation use. It also provides numerous ecosystem services like clean air, water and protection against disaster and calamity like typhoon, landslide, flooding, and even global warming and climate change.

 

“We must sustain these important benefits and functions of our watershed to maintain ecological balance. Our collaborative efforts are much needed now to protect and conserve this ecosystem,” he explained.

 

He emphasized that the “Save Our Watershed” advocacy campaign calls for the active collaboration and cooperation of various stakeholders of the environment to stop environmental crimes and abuses on forest and natural resources.

 

“We need to change the public perception and attitude that watershed is not only a source of resources to be extracted. It has also life that is crucial to our survival,” he said, adding that more than reforestation, social behavioral change is crucial in this campaign to save watershed.

 

Moreno also expressed his gratitude to the DENR’s partners in the region including the people’s organization, non-government organization and the private sector for implementing project for watershed rehabilitation and have been supporting them in their programs, and whose activities contributed so much to watershed rehabilitation.

 

He also extended his appreciation to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the local government units (LGU), who have facilitated the organization of watershed management councils.

 

For her part, Mayor Mary Abad of Carranglan town, vowed to support the advocacy campaign including the forestland management project (FMP) of the DENR in the more than 44,000-hectare Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed.

 

She also underscored the importance of strengthening the collaboration with the different stakeholders and partners to ensure safer and more resilient communities through sustainable watershed management.

 

The launching also witnessed the forging of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DENR Region 3 and the Prime Water Corporation for the active collaboration on save our watershed campaign, the maintenance and adoption of watershed and alliance with people’s organization and local communities to intensify watershed protection.

 

It has also recognized five environmental organizations for their valuable contributions in the protection and conservation of the environment and branded them as “Save Our Watershed Champions”. These include the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Bambuhay, Binbin Igorot Association, Inc., Barangay Salazar Tribal Planting Association, Inc., Kadangdanglaan Farmers Association, Inc., and Sitio Tubong Upland Farmers Association, Inc., all in Nueva Ecija.

 

DENR records show that there are nine critical watersheds in Central Luzon supporting national irrigation system, and 146 watershed forest reserves and three major river basins. (-30-)