World Bank approves $57-M loan to protect RP environment

By Alex Villafania INQUIRER.net THE WORLD Bank on Tuesday approved a total of $57 million for the Philippine government's National Program Support for Environmental and Natural Resources Management (NPSENRMP), as mandated for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). NPSENRMP focuses on assisting the DENR in pursuing its activities to conserve and protect the country's environmental and natural resources. The grant is divided by the WB, which provided $50 million while the remaining $7 million came from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), an organization of international governments that funds projects dedicated to conserving and protecting the environment. GEF's grant would be used to carry out collaborative efforts among concerned national government and local government units and community organizations in implementing integrated approaches to watershed and wetlands management. There are three components under the NSENRMP. The first is policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation. It facilitates the implementation of the DENR's Rationalization Plan by improving the efficiency of the department's organization and operations, as well as strengthening its service delivery functions. The first component also aims to develop various maps for watershed management and land use plans. The maps will be used for comprehensive mine rehabilitation and remediation plans for priority abandoned mine sites. The second component is a collaborative program involving the DENR, LGUs and community organizations for integrated watershed and wetlands management strategies. Watersheds that are facing risk of degradation would be identified and prioritized under the second component. An important aspect of the second component is supporting sustainable livelihood improvement sub-projects that enhance the ecosystems, conserve biodiversity and increase farmers' income. The third component is to strengthen DENR's regulatory and oversight functions and its capacity to implement environmental regulations related to air and water quality, waste management and environmental impact assessment. World Bank Country Director Joachim von Amsberg said in a statement: "more effective environmental management is crucial for growth in sectors such as tourism, mining and modern services. The Philippines is home to a rich diversity of natural resources, yet a lot of these are threatened by environmental degradation and acute pollution problems. We also hope to see the effective use of the GEF's additional funding, which is intended to assist the LGUs successfully carry out their devolved environmental services, with the help of the DENR."