DENR starts enterprise project with Mitsubishi
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to start the initial phase of its enterprise development project in Ilocos Norte with Japanese auto-giant Mitsubishi Motors Philippine Corp.
The agency and Mitsubishi recently broke ground for the first phase of its 100-hectare enterprise development project in Bangui involving a 30-hectare coffee and cacao plantation and the development of the historical Sentinella Hill into an eco-cultural tourist destination.
The joint venture project aims to rehabilitate 100 hectares of forestland through sustainable integrated area development (SIAD) approach which harnesses a community’s natural wealth to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth within the local economy.
Under the agreement, Mitsubishi will provide funds for SIAD projects to be identified by the DENR which, in turn, will provide the technical requirements in terms of manpower skills and government support.
The auto company will initially release P2.6 million, P1.9 million of which will go to the Sentinella Hill project to cover the improvements of its access trail and slope stabilization, establishment of a 2.2-hectare plantation site, a seedling nursery and construction of a look-out tower.
The remaining P700,000 will be allocated for the coffee and cacao plantation to cover the production of some 15,000 cacao and coffee seedlings, construction of a seedling nursery, and maintenance and operation cost of the plantation this year.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the agency’s convergence approach with the private sector and the local government aims to achieve equitable growth that would improve the ecological condition of the country as well as the socioeconomic status of the community.
“Bangui’s initiatives to sustain its local tourism industry hinges well on it people’s desire to harness and protect its ecological condition,” he added.
The Sentinella Hill, located in Barangay San Lorenzo, gives a view of the entire nine-kilometer Bangui coastline that is famous for its windmill turbines, and panoramic view of the hills and coastline of neighboring towns of Burgos and Pagudpud.
Furthermore, Mitsubishi agreed to transform a total of 100 hectares of forestland into SIAD sites nationwide in the next five years.
The DENR and Mitsubishi have an ongoing memorandum of understanding where the latter, under its corporate social responsibility program, vowed to support the agency’s environmental projects, including enterprise projects and the promotion of electric and hybrid vehicle technology.
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