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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Retired police general seeks renewal of watershed protection agreement

Retired police general seeks renewal of watershed protection agreement

Published Aug 5, 2024 09:03 am

CEBU CITY – A retired police general is seeking the renewal of a watershed protection agreement in a mountain barangay here.

The proponent, retired Brig. Gen. Tiburcio Fusilero, has been leading the protection and reforestation of the 504-hectare protected area in Sitio Kantipla, Barangay Tabunan.

KEEP.jpeg

THE Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation reforests a protected area in Sitio Kantipla, Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City. (Contributed photo)

He forged a 25-year memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that is set to expire on November 15 this year.

Fusilero appealed to the DENR, through Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, to renew the MOA for the continued protection of the watershed .

In his May 16, 2024 letter to Loyzaga, Fusilero reported the massive illegal sale and illegal construction of structures in the area.

“I would like to personally inform you that there is massive illegal sales and illegal structures within the protected areas that needs to be prevented, otherwise Cebu will lose the watershed and the last remaining forest,” Fusilero said.

Fusilero leads the Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection (KEEP) Foundation which was formed to help him accomplish what was mandated in the MOA.

He was an active police general when he and DENR signed the MOA on November 15, 2000.

Under the agreement, Fusilero was tasked to “protect, preserve, and conduct reforestation activities” in the protected area.

Fusilero feared that if the MOA is not renewed, abuses such as “kaingin” or slashing and burning of trees and illegal sale of land may proliferate in the area.

His application for the renewal of the MOA was  endorsed by the Biodiversity Management Bureau and the Forest Management Bureau.

“Private entries with strong political and financial backing are slowly getting their way to eventually destroy what we have planted,” Fusilero lamented.

Fusilero said because of the MOA, around 380,000 trees, including indigenous and fruit-bearing trees, have been planted at the Kantipla protected area.

The MOA helped provide wildlife with a healthy ecosystem, Fusilero said.

Related Tags

Cebu City Watershed KEEP Foundation Tiburcio Fusilero
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