Prime Infra through WawaJVCo Inc. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have committed to undertake the reforestation of a 1,800-hectare area within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL).
Prime Infra and the DENR on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) where the latter and WawaJVCo will design, develop and establish afforestation, reforestation and revegetation programs within the UMRBPL.
The MOU is in line with the vision and mission of DENR and the Environmental, Social and Governance framework of Prime Infra that integrates sustainability efforts in resource management and decarbonization strategies.
The programs intend to generate carbon units, based on internationally accepted voluntary carbon standards which will enable investments in sustainable social and environmental projects for the communities where WawaJVCo and Prime Infra operate.
The MOU also affirms the commitment of WawaJVCo to exert best practices in stakeholder consultations with and involvement of the local community and indigenous peoples, as it is the developer and operator of the Wawa bulk water supply project in Rizal province designed to deliver a reliable water supply of at least 518 million liters per day to Manila Water and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
Guillaume Lucci, Prime Infra president and chief executive officer, said the reforestation project will also “ensure the sustainability of our water supply while providing a natural carbon sink program and ultimately, protect our environment and support local communities.”
Lucci added the MOU could serve as a blueprint for a wider implementation of Prime Infra’s nature-based solution program to create value in its other energy and waste management businesses. -Jed Macapagal
