The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Puerto Princesa City signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of a $475,000-project for the development of environment policies and plans that will be pilot-tested in the Subterranean River National Park.

“The agreement will strengthen the partnership and cooperation between the DENR and the city government of Puerto Princesa in implementing environmental projects at the local level especially in the field of biodiversity, climate change and land degradation,” said Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio Ramos.

Ramos and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn led the signing of agreement for the implementation of the three-year project called “Strengthening Coordination for Effective Environmental Management (STREEM)” which is financed through a grant by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Ramos said the coordination tools in the form of executive orders (EO), administrative orders (AO), implementation policies, programs, among others, that will be developed under the project, will be pilot-tested in Puerto Princesa, specifically in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP).

This will be later raised to the national level as part of efforts to comply with Philippine commitments under the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAS) such as the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation (UNCCD).

Ramos said the PPSRNP was selected as pilot area because of its full mountain-to-sea ecosystem and forest area that is most suited for the implementation of international environment conventions.

Under the agreement, the DENR will provide guidance, supervision and oversight of Puerto Princesa in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the activities in the project site.

The DENR will also course funds needed by the project to the local government (Puerto Princesa) based on the project site’s approved work and financial plan, and assist the local government in the preparation of the relevant reports to the UNDP and GEF.

Meanwhile, the local government of Puerto Princesa will review and provide the inputs for the preparation of the coordination tools; provide inputs on the cross-cutting thematic areas in the MEAs; ensure sustainability of the project by supporting the adoption of the tools developed at the local government level; and develop and implement an information, education and communication campaign; integrate MEAs into LGU environment-related initiatives such as the preparation of local environmental action plans, monitoring of development indicators and the preparation of local legislative act.

The city government will also submit pre-audited physical and financial reports and other pertinent documents as required by UNDP and DENR; and will designate one representative and alternate representative to the Project Monitoring Board.