Marikina forest rehab underway

Infrastructure company Prime Infra has signed a tripartite agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government of Rizal for the rehabilitation and sustainable management of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL).

Prime Infra chairman Enrique K. Razon Jr., DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga and Rizal Governor Nina Ricci Yares signed the memorandum of agreement (MoA) that builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding executed in February 2023 by the three parties.

Under the MOA, the parties committed to “rehabilitate, conserve, and sustainably manage” an initial 4,000 hectares within the UMRPBL, and to establish a model for afforestation, reforestation and revegetation that integrates sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, while generating verified nature-based credits.

“With this agreement, we aim to rehabilitate an initial 4,000 hectares of degraded land within the Upper Marikina protected area combining science-based approaches with community-centered efforts,” Loyzaga said. 

“By generating nature-based credits, we are creating a model that aligns environmental conservation with economic opportunities benefiting both local communities and the broader economic landscape,” she added.

Prime Infra shall ensure that the project activities align with the objectives of the National Greening Program (NGP) and contribute to the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.

The collaboration, Loyzaga emphasized, sets a new benchmark for public-private partnerships, whole-of-society, and whole-of-government.

For his part, Razon said the MoA not only establishes a model for environmental stewardship, but also creates a “blueprint for future projects that will drive meaningful change to restore ecosystems and enhance climate resilience.”

“Today’s milestone reflects that commitment—a decisive step toward safeguarding and restoring nature’s resources through innovative, science-based interventions, focusing closely on forest rehabilitation and management. This initiative also aligns with Prime Infra’s broader mission of building better lives and resilient economies, creating long-term value for both people and planet,” he said.

Razon noted that the province of Rizal has long been a strategic focus for Prime Infra, hosting two of its key infrastructure projects — the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project and the Wawa Pumped Storage Power Project.

“These projects, along with the MoA we are signing today, reinforce our dedication to driving sustainable development and creating a resilient future for the people of Rizal,” he said.