EDC conducts consultation on expanded BINHI program

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  — The country’s primary geothermal power producer, Energy Development Corporation, on Thursday started its stakeholders’ consultations in preparation for what it said was a massive greening project, known as BINHI program, for the entire Negros Island.

The expanded BINHI program, covering the Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental provinces, is an EDC-led four-pronged reforestation initiative focusing on growing trees and restoring vanishing high-value species, especially the endemic or native trees of the Philippines as well as biodiversity restoration,

James Villaroman, EDC’s business unit head for Negros Island, said the company had envisioned to expand the BINHI program as an advocacy, in which stakeholders would be actively involved in reforestation and forest restoration of the entire Negros Island Region.

Still without a formal name to go with the campaign, Villaroman appealed to the multi-sector representatives to support and take part in the advocacy, highlighting their important roles in making this a success, especially in the regional level.

Villaroman cited the “high environmental consciousness” of the people in Negros, which has inspired the company to embark on this “big, big program” that will run for five to ten years at the most with a “high impact outcome.”

If realized, the NIR will be “the biggest region to unite for a forest restoration” program that will not only grow trees, restore biodiversity and promote environmental consciousness but also create business and livelihood opportunities, Villaroman said.

One of the concerns raised in the consultation was on how to encourage private land owners to plant trees in line with the proposed expanded BINHI program, he said.

The main objective of the forest restoration is “to create a ‘diverse’ stand of trees following the original composition,” and will target areas including open lands, grasslands, degraded forests and forest gaps, Villaroman explained in his briefing presentation.

Measures of success include survival of trees, good canopy cover, presence of natural re-growths, and improved diversity, he said, adding that three major inputs to consider for this are land (availability), planting materials and labor.

Present during the consultation were Dauin town Mayor Neil Credo, Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr., Colonel Allan Martin of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Negros Oriental, headed by PENRO Charlie Fabre, Ed Du of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Prosecutor Ely Escoreal, and representatives from academe, the media, advocacy groups and civil society.

EDC later this weekend held similar consultations in Bacolod City to also get the pulse of the people in Negros Occidental regarding the proposed expanded BINHI program.  (FREEMAN)