BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - - Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) bared that the watershed status and natural resources in Cagayan Valley is now improving.

This was bared during the recent  Mid-year Assessment recently conducted in Aritao town through the report of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces which  focused on the agency’s  various project's physical and financial status of accomplishments on the established plantations and Agroforestry Support Facilities (ASF).

Engineer Giovanie Magat, Nueva Vizcaya PENRO, said the improving forest cover in the region can be attributed to the continuing plantation establishment activities under the Forestland Management Project (FMP).

He said a total of 25,377 hectares of forest plantations have been established in the said provinces.

Magat said  36 ASFs were also given to the local government units and People’s Organizations (POs) as partners.

He said the turned - over facilities were road improvement, pathways, bridge,s and  irrigation pipeline system projects, among others.

Magat said with the ASF put in place, POs and residents have now better access to market their products and avail of basic services which support their reforestation works.

"We should take responsibilities by heart to ensure the sustainability of what we have started on this project that contributed to the development of our watershed areas," he said.

The FMP,  a 10-year partnership project between the Philippine Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to end this year.

The FMP seeks to strengthen the management of critical river basins in the Philippines through collaborative and comprehensive community-based forest management strategies. (OTB/BME/PIA NVizcaya)