P13M fund to plant 500,000 trees in Mananga watershed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC) and the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW) signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday to launch the Forest Restoration Project at the Mananga Watershed.

Under the agreement, CEDC will provide the funding of P13 million to plant 500,000 trees in 500 hectares in five years.

The project is part of the Kabilin program of CEDC which includes the Malubog Watershed program targeting the reforestation of 100 hectares around the Malubog dam in Toledo City.

CEDC was formed to engage in the development, engineering, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the 3X82 megawatts of clean coal-fired power plant project in Daanglungsod, Toledo. CUSW, meanwhile, is a nongovernment organization that actively promotes the conservation and rehabilitation of Cebu’s watershed areas and the sustainable use of water and water resources in Cebu Province.

The agreement states that CUSW shall identify and allocate more or less 500 hectares within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and restore its vegetative cover as well as to ensure that the assigned area is covered by an existing co-management agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. CUSW shall also be responsible for the preparation of the planting site.

The CEDC shall release the funds on a yearly basis within the five-year duration of the project.

The agreement was signed by CEDC President Jesus Alcordo and CUSW President Casiano Catapang. (FREEMAN)