Baguio City – Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Cordillera and Region II entered into an agreement signifying their firm commitments to preserve and protect the forests and watersheds within the Northern Luzon area to ensure the continuous robust growth of the country’s agriculture and energy sectors.

The signing of the agreement was in compliance with Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza’s marching orders to all DENR field offices to strengthen their forest protection capabilities for the benefit of the future generation of Filipinos.

Initially, Primitivo C. Galinato Jr., DENR-CAR regional executive director and Laureano Lingan Jr., DENR Region II regional executive director, agreed to establish monitoring stations in strategic places to be jointly identified by the concerned regions to ensure sustainable conservation,
protection and development of natural resources and the environment within the critical watersheds.

Some of the monitoring stations will be established in Butigue, Paracelis, Mountain Province; Masi, Pamplona, Cagayan; San Isidro, Isabela and Luna, Apayao.

Earlier, the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera has rallied an all-out support from the national government and concerned lowland communities to be actively involved in the drastic implementation of programs and projects relative to the preservation and protection of the deteriorating watersheds in the Northern Luzon area to ensure the abundant supply of water for the revitalized agriculture and energy sectors in the Ilocos, Cagayan and Central Luzon regions.

Under the agreement, the monitoring stations shall unify and streamline efforts and resources through mutual implementation and collaboration towards achieving overall resource conservation and protection of the environment.

Furthermore, the labor and construction materials needed in the establishment of the said monitoring stations shall be equally shared by both regions and that the manpower and the corresponding operational expenses shall be proportionately shouldered by the provincial and community environment and natural resources offices concerned.

At the same time, both offices agreed that the disposition of apprehended natural resources, conveyances and tools shall always be in accordance with existing rules and regulations.