BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (June 3)—The British FCF Minerals Corporation here and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) forged a partnership for a forest rehabilitation project.
James Carmichael, FCF Minerals country manager, said the company has vowed to allocate funds for the three-year project starting in 2022 amounting to P2.79 million for the establishment of plantations which is expected to have at least an 85 percent survival rate.
According to the DENR Region 2 officials, the partnership will focus on the rehabilitation of the 83-hectare forest development project to include graduated National Greening Program (NGP) sites in the province within the coverage areas of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) in Nueva Vizcaya.
The DENR said the agreement will facilitate and accelerate the replacement of affected trees to be cut during the mining operations in compliance with the financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) and the tree cutting permit awarded to the company.
Gwendolyn Bambalan, DENR Region 2 executive director, and FCF General Manager for Operations Lorne Harvey signed the Memorandum of Agreement or MoA.
“This endeavor will create livelihood opportunities for the people’s organizations (POs) which will be engaged in the rehabilitation of the areas,” Bambalan said.
She said this is a manifestation of strengthened commitment between the parties to bring environment, economic and social development in the area.
“FCF Minerals will take responsibility to develop the project which will eventually benefit the community and the members of the POs,” Harvey said.
He also expressed thanks to the DENR Region 2 for its continued partnership in environmental protection and conservation, particularly in their area of operation.