High-ranking officials of the United States Agency for International Development in the Philippines have assured continuous help to Bayawan City in southern Negros Oriental, for its successful implementation of its forest land use plan and other development projects.

Mission Director Jon Lindborg of USAID-Philippines, Daniel Moore, chief of its Office of Energy and Environment, and party were in Bayawan City Friday for a briefing and on site visits to the FLUP and other projects funded by their agency.

Mayor Gerry Sarana, in welcoming the USAID officials, expressed gratitude for the assistance to Bayawan City that has boosted its development and progress.

The FLUP was started in 2003 through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Eco-Gov project of the USAID.

Covered by the FLUP project of Bayawan are the Riverbank Rehabilitation and Management Project, the Barangay Danapa Watershed Project, the Tree Park at the new government center, forestline delineation survey, establishment of water production areas, rehabilitation of denuded critical watersheds, and trial planting of jathropa, commonly known as "tuba-tuba".

Lindborg lauded these local initiatives on environmental protection, saying these are examples of a strong partnership between the United States and Philippine governments.

The USAID mission director also assure they will find ways to further help fulfill these initiatives, saying their partnership is “very, very important” to them.

"It is very heartening to see good news here in your great city, and all the hard work that you've done," Lindborg said.*JG

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