ILOILO City – How is the 10-year Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded rehabilitation project in Region 6’s Jalaur River Basin (JRB) doing?
The Jalaur River Basin encompasses almost entirely the province of Iloilo, with portions lying within the provinces of Capiz and Antique. It has a total area of 176,500 hectares. Ten watersheds comprise the entire JRB.
But only three towns in Iloilo province were covered by the rehabilitation project, according to Antonio Latoza Jr., forester and provincial focal person for Forest Land Management Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6.
These were Janiuay, Lambunao and Calinog towns as they host the tributaries of the JRB: Alibunan River (Calinog), Ulian or Tagbacan River (Lambunao) and Magapa River (Janiuay).
The rehabilitation project covers almost all upland communities in the said towns with a total area of 13,027 hectares, Latoza said in an interview with Panay News.
“We started in 2012 pero ang actual nga action was in 2013 kay amo ‘na ang pag-launch sang project,” he noted.
According to Latoza, among the developments undertaken by the DENR in the upland areas were tree planting, soil and water conservation, agro-forestry, and installation of infrastructure projects, among others.
In agro-forestry, the DENR chose coffee production where they provided seedlings, equipment and technical assistance to the residents.
In fact, 54 percent of the site development of the JRB was planted with coffee, Latoza said.
The DENR also planted various trees on 4,000 hectares, and conducted water conservation measures on 1,143 hectares.
According to Latoza, P374 million has been allotted for the site development, including agro-forestry.
Up to P458 million, meanwhile, was allotted for infrastructure components such as pathways, hanging bridges, road rehabilitation, and irrigation and pipeline systems.
Livelihood projects like bakeries and post-harvest farming facilities were also provided to 22 organizations including two Indigenous Peoples groups in Calinog.
‘SUCCESSFUL’
Latoza deemed the rehabilitation project a “success” even with its continued implementation.
“So far ang planting activity maayo gid. Ang aton target area fully planted na sia,” said Latoza.
However, during the onset of the coronavirus disease pandemic last year, other activities were affected such as those in construction or infrastructure.
Since it’s less than one year before the rehabilitation is completed, Latoza said they will focus more on maintaining and protecting the planted trees and coffee plantation.
This, after prior to turnover to the community, “dapat kumpleto kag makapasar sa criteria nga 85 percent ang survival sang plants,” Latoza said.
In June 2022, DENR will turn over the project to the organizations that would manage the project in the next 25 years.
HOW WAS JRB CHOSEN?
One of the “driving factors” why the JRB was chosen by JICA and the national government was the impact of Typhoon Frank in 2008, said Latoza.
According to Latoza, prior to the typhoon, there had been many proposals to fund the rehabilitation of the JRB, but they have not materialized.
Another factor was that the project can complement the water requirements of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project, or JRMP II, Latoza said./PN
