THE rehabilitation of the Chico River will finally get its much-needed financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Forest Management Services Regional Technical Director Augusto Lagon said more than $20 million will be allotted to the reforestation and rehabilitation of the Chico River.

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Lagon said the Chico will receive the funding rather than the Agno River.

The ADB is granting $80 million to four countries and the Chico River was chosen as the recipient for the Philippines.

On the other hand, Lagon said a comprehensive watershed program for the Agno River and an integrated watershed program are already being done as a result of the inter-regional watershed summit, which was sponsored by the North Luzon quadrangle.

Lagon said there is already a technical working group to prepare the necessary documents for the watershed programs of the Chico.

Lagon added the deadline for the watershed program will be the end of November.

He added the watershed program will be composed of the problems and strategies to solve these.

Lagon said the protection of watersheds is not the sole responsibility of the DENR but a responsibility of all stakeholders in Mt. Province and Kalinga provinces.

"This is a shared responsibility," the watershed programs are more on encouraging stakeholders to help in the protection of watershed because all are affected, Lagon said.
(Visha Calventas)