Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa LlorenCuaresma said that thousands of forest and fruit-tree seedlings have been planted to 500 hectares of the 24,000-hectare Magat watershed since a local directive requiring all provincial government employees to take part in the reforestation activities was issued some three months ago.
The directive requires provincial government officials and employees in batches to plant forest and fruit tree seedlings every Friday as part of their weekly official functions and activities. Non-compliance with the order, she said, could mean disciplinary actions against the offender whether she or he holds a high or rank-and-file positions.
Nueva Vizcaya, as the watershed of Cagayan Valley, Cuaresma said, should take the necessary measures to prolong the lifespan of the Magat dam hydroelectric and irrigation project in neighboring Isabela.
Located in Ramon, Isabela, the Magat Dam, once Asia’s biggest multi-purpose dam, has its watersheds in this landlocked province. The water from the watersheds goes to the Matuno and Magat Rivers, whose tributaries come from various minor rivers from the different municipalities.
The dam has been the major source of irrigation water for more than 85,000 hectares of farmlands in Isabela, Qurino and Cagayan. It also generates at least 360 megawatts, making it one of the biggest contributors for the National Power Corp.’s Luzon grid.
Earlier, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) predicted that the life span of the dam has been radically reduced to 36 years from an original of 50 years mainly due to siltation, illegal tree-cutting and slash-and-burn farming (kaingin).
Aware of the province’s critical role in saving the dam, the provincial government, aside from embarking on a massive tree-planting program, has also ordered a tight watch on illegal tree cutting, which has reportedly been becoming rampant, especially in the mountains of Bagabag and Diadi where the heart of the Magat watershed is located.
Gene Basilio, provincial affairs, information and assistance division chief, said that the governor ordered department heads of the provincial government to assign personnel every Friday to clear as well as plant their allocated lots in the Magat watershed in Diadi with various types of forest and fruit tree-seedlings.
The major site of the reforestation program, he said, is part of the eco-tourism development site of the Lower Magat Reforestation Management Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
"Aside from taking part in restoring the watershed of Magat Dam whose lifespan has been shortened due to siltation and illegal tree cutting, we will also be developing the area for eco-tourism purposes," he said.
