He said the FMP projects will end this 2023 and requested the LGU to continue protecting and maintaining the JICA - funded projects.
“With the help of our international partners, we now made possible what we once called impossible. These bridges, roads and irrigation pipeline system have provided you with access to the municipal proper, to education, and to everything,” said DENR 6 director Livino B. Duran.
ASF is one of the components of the FMP which was implemented starting 2012. Out of the 32 ASFs in the province, the municipality of Calinog got 13 ASFs and are distributed among its upland barangays. The rest are implemented in the municipalities of Janiuay with 13 ASFs and Lambunao with 6 ASFs.
Former Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. together with the former DENR 6 Regional Director and former Iloilo PENR Officer were the signatories to the Agreement, which is now considered a living legacy of collaboration.
“This is now the living legacy of collaboration of the DENR, Local Government Units in the province, municipal, and the barangay. We only wish one thing –and that is to bring the JICA representatives here in Calinog for them to see the infrastructure they supported and for them to see how important their projects are to the upland community,” said Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Technical Services Raul L. Lorilla.
The turn-over ceremony was attended by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., Congressman -3rd District of Iloilo Lorenz Defensor, Calinog Municipal Mayor Francisco Calvo and Vice Mayor Andrew Gustillo, other DENR 6 officials, PENR Officer Salvador C. Manglinong, Jr., representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous People, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, National Irrigation Authority, members of Janiuay SB Council and People’s Organizations beneficiaries. (AAL/LAF/PIA6 Iloilo/DENR 6)
