DIFFUN, Quirino, Sept. 16 (PIA)—A total of P45.7 million infrastructure projects was recently turned over to the local government here and the Pimentel-Dumanisi Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (PDUFAI) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional office.
The projects which include Pimentel Hanging Bridge and the 1.7 kilometer Dumanisi Access Road with Hanging Bridge were funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency through the Forestland Management Project (FMP), a watershed rehabilitation project implemented by the DENR.
During the turn-over ceremony, DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan said Quirino province is one of the few beneficiaries of the FMP in the entire country.
“Through these projects, the delivery of basic necessities and social services to residents of Barangays Dumanisi, Pimentel, Don Faustino Pagaduan and Gabriela Silang will be improved and these will also provide them easy access to the town proper, public market, schools and hospitals,” Bambalan added.
In an article posted at the DENR 2 page, Director Bambalan thanked the municipal government and the PDUFAI for their support which resulted to the successful implementation of the FMP and other DENR projects in Diffun town as she called for the cooperation of the PO members and residents in the protection of the forests in Quirino province against illegal logging and other prohibited activities.
“We are strengthening our partnership with law enforcement agencies in our all-out campaign to fight forest destruction. Please report any illegal logging activity in your areas,” she appealed.
For her part, Mayor May G. Calaunan thanked the DENR for the infrastructure projects that will benefit her constituents as she assured the full support of the local government for the proper operation and maintenance of the facilities.
“Our municipality has limited income kaya hindi po namin kayang tugunan lahat ng pangangailangan ng aming constituents. Masaya po kami dahil dito po sa amin napunta ang projects,” Mayor Calaunan said.
The DENR, LGU Diffun and Pimentel-Dumanisi Upland Farmers Association, Inc. signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement which states that after completion and turn-over of the subproject, the MLGU shall assume the responsibility to operate and maintain the subproject in accordance with the approved Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan, as concurred by the DENR-PENRO.
For this purpose, the MLGU shall include the required budget for O&M of the subproject in the Annual Investment Plan duly supported with a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolution.
Meanwhile, the groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction of the irrigation pipeline system worth P7.6 million in Barangay Don Mariano Perez.
This 8.5-kilometer pipeline system will serve as irrigation source to ensure the survival of the 618-hectare plantation areas established by Don Mariano Perez Farmers Consumers Cooperative for reforestation, agroforestry, fuelwood, coffee plantation, and soil and water conservation.
The turn over and groundbreaking ceremonies were also attended by Vice Mayor Cesar M. Agustin, Sangguniang Bayan Members Ma. Karen B. Guillermo and Gloria Antolin, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Mariam Frances T. Malana, Community ENR Officers Mindo N. Aquino and Taripato B. Sagun, MENRO Jessie Delio S. Vaquilar, barangay officials, and PO members. (TCB)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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