THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced it is strategizing the conditions for investments in reforestation initiatives covering 1.2 million hectares of territory.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga informed journalists on the fringes of the Japan-Philippines Environment Week celebration that the reforestation initiative will target potential international investors aiming to balance their emissions.
“We anticipate that there will be enthusiasm from foreign companies that are seeking or required to mitigate their emissions. Our principal objective is to enhance reforestation,” she articulated.
“Our intention is to facilitate the release of up to 3 million hectares for investment in reforestation, agroforestry, and other activities related to the sustainable utilization of our forested areas within this administration,” she elaborated.
Regarding environmental initiatives involving Japan, Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga expressed her eagerness for Japan’s involvement in creating an electronic waste management framework for the Philippines.
“We currently lack a proper system for e-waste,” she remarked.
She mentioned that there will be conversations focused on technologies that could be implemented in the Philippines to tackle its extensive solid waste challenges, with waste-to-energy solutions being contemplated.
The World Bank has indicated that waste-to-energy alternatives are recognized as a sustainable substitute for landfills.
Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones added that the DENR is in the final stages of developing a partnership framework between the DENR and Japan’s Ministry of Environment.
“We are currently finalizing the specifics of the collaboration,” Mr. Leones stated.
Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga further mentioned that the Japanese government is prepared to offer technical support, scientific collaboration, financing, and official development aid.
“We’re examining how all of these can effectively contribute to achieving our objectives concerning decarbonization, sustainable communities, and ecological conservation, through various types of technologies and interventions,” she mentioned. — Adrian H. Halili