JG Summit unit adopts Boracay wetland

MANILA, Philippines — A subsidiary of Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings is set to contribute to the continued rehabilitation of Boracay through the revival of its ecosystem and adoption of Wetland No. 8.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resour-ces (DENR) and JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. (JGSPC) recently inked a memorandum of agreement to adopt Wetland No. 8, which is located in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

JGSPC is a leading supplier of innovative world-class petrochemical products and solutions in the Philippines.

Wetland No. 8 is one of the nine wetlands that the private sector will rehabilitate and develop in partnership with the DENR and the Boracay Interagency Task Force.

Among the nine wetlands in Boracay, four have been adopted—Wetland No. 2 by Energy Development Corp., Wetland No. 3 by San Miguel Corp., Wetland No. 4 by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and Wetland No. 6 by Boracay Tubi System Inc.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said wetlands are among the most neglected and impaired ecosystems despite their importance in regulating natural water flow in the environment.

Cimatu said JG Summit is an ideal partner of the DENR for agreeing to science-based assessments and development plans that are designed to allow the natural flow of water and effluents, as well as restore the wetland’s natural vegetation.

Under the agreement, JGSPC will improve and rehabilitate the 1.8-hectare wetland eight in three phases.

The first phase entails the conduct of studies on the wetlands, including bathymetric surveys, profiling, and biodiversity assessment.

The results of the studies will be used as bases in the formulation and drafting of a rehabilitation plan, which constitutes the second phase. The plan includes activities that aim to enhance the touristic values of the wetland while maintaining its priority ecological services, such as flooding regulation and water filtration.

The last phase will be the implementation of the rehabilitation plan based on the timing and schedule prescribed by the DENR.

The MOA also tasks the JGSPC with other responsibilities such as prioritizing adjacent local communities for any suitable employment opportunities and shouldering rehabilitation-related expenses.

For its part, the DENR will provide assistance in the processing or issuance of documentary requirements, including environmental compliance certificate, certificate of non-compliance, other permits and clearances.

The agency will also take the lead in identifying the areas where the studies and rehabilitation plan will be carried out, consolidating and analyzing studies, wetland profiling and management planning, developing information campaign materials, and preparing a sustainability plan that will ensure the sustainability of activities in the rehabilitation area.

The agreement is renewable after its initial effectivity period of three years.